Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analyst Talent, Information, and Insider Trading

This paper employs a novel measure of sell-side financial analyst innate ability or natural talent and explores its effects on insider trading. When a firm is covered by high-ability analysts, we find significantly less insider trading prior to positive earnings news, but not prior to negative earnings news. The results mostly reside in opportunistic trades by insiders rather than routine trades. When a firm is initially covered by an analyst, we find decreased subsequent insider trading prior to earnings news and the change in subsequent insider trading is also strongly associated with analyst innate ability. We also document an association between analyst ability and insider trading profitability. Overall, our results suggest that (1) high-ability analysts contribute more than lowability analysts to a firm’s information environment and reduce both the intensity and the profitability of insider trading; and (2) high-ability analysts may help impound firm-specific information possessed by corporate insiders. Unscrupulous insiders attempting to expropriate profits from their trades may prefer to not be covered by high-ability analysts.
Innovation. An Instrument for Development of Companies

Innovation is seen in numerous specialized studies as an efficient method for improving the performance of a company based on the sector in which that company operates. Based on this idea, the article aims to determine the nature of inter-correlation between the innovation activity of companies and the level of performance of these, which are the main types of innovation and how they can influence companies` position and how the sector of activity can influence the dimension of the impact of innovation. For achieve these objectives have been analysed empirical studies in various sectors, studies which have highlighted a positive inter-correlation between innovation activity and the performance of companies with significant differences depending on the type of innovation and industry use. The article is completed by an empirical analysis which aims to determine the extent to which performance of companies in the construction sector is sensitive to innovation activity. For the analysis were collected data from 14 companies which developed the specific activities in the construction sector of Europe, were achieve a total of 112 observations. The results obtained by applying a multiple regression model shows a positive correlation relationship between indicators of innovation (R&D expenditures and the value of patents/patents) on the one side and performance indicators (equity, labour productivity and number of employees) on the other side. Another direction of research analysed in this paper is to determine the impact of labour indicators on the level of innovation, in this situation was achieve a positive but insignificant inter-correlation between those indicators.
External governance mechanisms and investment-cash flow sensitivity: an international perspective

We examine whether country-level governance mechanisms influence the substitutability between internal funds and external financing in a firm’s investment behavior. We argue that a firm’s investment-cash flow sensitivity (ICFS) depends on country-level governance mechanisms that facilitate external monitoring and enforcement of financial contracts, and that such effect is different depending on a country’s level of shareholder protection and creditor rights. Using a sample of 8,573 listed firms from 41 countries over the period 2005-2014, we find that creditor rights and shareholder protection reduces the ICFS. Although both country-level governance mechanisms lessens the reliance of firms’ to internal funds by improving information transparency and disclosure as well as mitigating agency conflicts, their effect are even stronger when jointly considered. Our study contributes to the literature by providing evidence on the role of country-level governance on firm-level decision-making. Our findings also contribute to the ongoing discussion about whether firmand country-level governance mechanisms substitute or complement each other.
Biofilm formation by Escherichia coli isolated from patients with urinary tract infections.

AIMS The significance of biofilm formation for the clinical picture of urinary tract infections (UTI) is largely unknown. We wanted to find out whether Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains isolated from UTI patients differ in their ability to form biofilms and whether this ability is associated with the clinical presentation of UTI. MATERIAL AND METHODS 70 E. coli strains were isolated from patients with cystitis (43 strains), pyelonephritis (11 strains) and urosepsis (16 strains) and biofilm formation was assessed on polystyrene microtiter plates by measuring the optical density (OD) of the attached material after 72 h of incubation and crystal violet staining of the bacteria. The formation of organized biofilm structures and the viability of the attached bacteria were verified by scanning electron microscopy and confocal scanning laser microscopy in a subsample of 22 strains. RESULTS 31% of the E. coli strains formed a biofilm. The strains isolated from patients with pyelonephritis had higher ODs than those from patients with cystitis (difference of the means 0.19, 95% confidence limits (CL) 0.06 - 0.32, p = 0.02). The E. coli strains susceptible to antibiotics had higher ODs than the resistant strains (difference of the means 0.21, 95% CL 0.03 - 0.27, p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS The ability of bacteria to persist and grow in a biofilm seems to be one of the important factors in both the resistance to antibiotics and the severity of urinary tract inflammation.
Induction of human interleukin 1 by bacterial and synthetic lipid A

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are well known inducers of interleukin 1 (IL1). Here we show that synthetic heptaacyl Salmonella minnesota (compound 516) and synthetic E. coli type (compound 506) lipid A, as well as monodephospho part structures thereof, are able to induce IL1 production in human mononuclear cells. The 4′‐monodephospho part structure (compound 505) was found to be the most active IL1 inducer as compared to compound 506 and the 1‐monodephospho part structure (compound 504). Synthetic lipid A precursor Ia, lacking nonhydroxylated fatty acids (compound 406), and its 1‐ or 4′‐monodephospho part structures (compounds 404 and 405) did not induce IL 1 production. IL2 is not produced during stimulation with the synthetic compounds. IL1 activity was partially heat labile and could be inhibited by a rabbit antiserum against human leukocytic pyrogen. These results show that the lipid A component of LPS is active in inducing IL 1 and that the presence of 3‐acyloxyacyl residues is necessary for IL1 induction.
Nonideal Effects Limit the Efficiency Gain for Angle-Restricted Solar Cells

Performance of a conventional solar cell at 1 sun is limited to ~31%, defined by the Shockley-Queisser (SQ) limit. The thermodynamic limit can be improved to ~41% by reducing the angle mismatch between incident light and emitted rays. This can be achieved either by increasing the range of incident angles (as in a concentrator cell; CPV) or by reducing the emission angle from the device (angle-restricted photovoltaics; APVs). The equivalence is exact in the radiative limit. However, the gains of angle-restricted cells may erode rapidly once nonradiative recombination and other optical losses are accounted for, suggesting the need for quantitative/careful design. Here, we report a detailed self-consistent absorption-emission-transport study to 1) define the limiting efficiency of APV scheme and 2) explain the efficiency loss due to practical constraints, such as Shockley-Read-Hall (SRH) and Auger recombination, and mirror reflectivity. Our analysis reflects a growing consensus in the field that any imperfection of the mirror quickly diminishes the advantages of angle restriction. We conclude that a 50-nm angle-restricted cell with moderate material quality, but with nearly perfect mirror and Lambertian trapping, may be ~36-37% efficient.
Project RECESS: Restructuring Environmental Contingencies and Enhancing Self-Managed Supervision

s addressed all three categories (non-autism, school-based, and recess) and passed to the next round of abstract coding. Of the 241 abstracts that survived these initial categories of coding, I coded the abstracts for adult behavior consisting of either 1 The articles that focused on students with Autism Spectrum Disorder often used techniques specific to that population to address more intense social issues not related to aggression, and were thus excluded from the review).
The growing importance of United States affiliates of transnational corporations based in the United Kingdom

This article explores the activities of United Kingdom-based transnational corporations (TNCs) and their affiliates in the United States. It extends UNCTAD's transnationality index to derive a "relative importance index" of the United States-based activities of United Kingdom TNCs. The results indicate that for some highly internationalized United Kingdom TNCs, activities in the United States account for a predominant proportion in their overall activities. In some cases, the United States affiliates contribute over 60% of the TNC's revenues, profits and net assets. The policy implications of such concentration of TNCs activities in a single foreign country are discussed.
How do children and caregivers perceive their experience of undergoing the CIMT protocol?

Abstract Objective: Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is an effective intervention to improve hand function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). However, some of its features, including the restraining of the unaffected arm and the intensive training, may result in stressful experiences for children and interfere with family routine. This study aimed to document the perceptions of children with CP and their caregivers regarding the experience of undergoing the CIMT protocol. Methods: Qualitative data were collected from semi-structured interviews conducted with five children with CP and their caregivers (n = 6). Content analysis structured and summarized data into two emergent categories: (i) Perception of children and caregivers about CIMT implementation procedures; (ii) Occupational performance before and after the CIMT protocol. The interviews' content revealed that children and caregivers recognized the benefits of CIMT, including increased use of the affected arm and decreased need for assistance; they believed that these gains outweighed the difficulties they experienced in daily routine.
A model of the voltage barrier in the channel of 4H-SiC normally-off JFET's

A model of the potential barrier in the channel of normally-off 4H-SiC JFET's is shown. It allows to evaluate the barrier height and the minority carrier density in the center of the channel for an arbitrary geometry and bias condition. The validity of the model is justified by comparing the model with numerical simulations carried out on various channel topologies.
Necrotizing pneumococcal pneumonia in children: The role of pulmonary gangrene

Little is known about the mechanism of necrotizing pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in children. Pulmonary gangrene secondary to vascular thrombosis was reported in adults with necrotizing pneumococcal pneumonia. We conducted a retrospective study of 15 children with a diagnosis of necrotizing pneumococcal pneumonia at National Taiwan University Hospital to explore its association with pulmonary gangrene, based on evidence from chest computed tomography, serial chest radiographic patterns, and pathologic results. S. pneumoniae serotype 14 was the prevalent pneumococcal serotype. Overall, 63.6% of isolates were not susceptible to penicillin. One child with pneumonia caused by S. pneumoniae serotype 3 complicated by hemolytic uremic syndrome had a rapidly fatal course. An autopsy in this patient documented lung necrosis and pulmonary gangrene. Radiographic follow‐up was performed during the clinical course in 9 patients, and showed no evidence of pulmonary gangrene. Four children had no radiographic follow‐up. The relationship between pulmonary gangrene and necrotizing pneumonia was unclear in the remaining one. In conclusion, necrotizing pneumococcal pneumonia may be infrequently associated with pulmonary gangrene in children. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2006; 41: 623–629. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Discussion of “ Is Optimal Monetary Policy Always Optimal ? ” ∗

A burgeoning part of the monetary policy design literature posits that optimal monetary policy is the solution to a constrained optimization problem where the monetary authority has the discretion to minimize a social welfare function, taking the economy and other policies as given. In their paper “Is Optimal Monetary Policy Always Optimal? ” Troy Davig and Refet Gurkaynak (henceforth, DG) argue convincingly that the solution thus attained may fail to deliver the desired outcome. The key insight is that any economy is characterized by multiple inefficiencies and multiple policymakers with possibly conflicting objectives, not necessarily coinciding with the social welfare function. As a result, designing policy under the false assumption that the central bank is the “only game in town” has undesirable side effects that induce inefficiencies. For example, political considerations may introduce elements other than the social welfare function to the objectives of fiscal policy. In this environment, optimality cannot be attained unless the different policies in question are jointly examined and formulated. Designing “optimal policy” is a question of the optimal mix of various policies (e.g., monetary, fiscal, regulatory, structural) for which different policymakers are responsible. The problem of “optimal policy” is not the same as the problem of “optimal monetary policy,” and equating the two yields flawed conclusions both for what monetary policy can do and for what it should do.
Targeting stathmin in prostate cancer

Stathmin is the founding member of a family of microtubule-destabilizing proteins that regulate the dynamics of microtubule polymerization and depolymerization. Stathmin is expressed at high levels in a variety of human cancers and provides an attractive molecule to target in cancer therapies that disrupt the mitotic apparatus. We developed replication-deficient bicistronic adenoviral vectors that coexpress green fluorescent protein and ribozymes that target stathmin mRNA. The therapeutic potential of these recombinant adenoviruses was tested in an experimental androgen-independent LNCaP prostate cancer model. Adenovirus-mediated transfer of anti-stathmin ribozymes resulted in efficient transduction and marked inhibition of stathmin expression in these cells. Cells that were transduced with the anti-stathmin adenoviruses showed a dramatic dose-dependent growth inhibition. This was associated with accumulation of LNCaP cells in the G2-M phases of the cell cycle. A similar dose-dependent inhibition of clonogenic potential was also observed in cells infected with anti-stathmin adenoviruses. Morphologic and biochemical analysis of infected cells showed a marked increase in apoptosis characterized by detachment of the cells, increased chromatin condensation, activation of caspase-3, and fragmentation of internucleosomal DNA. If these findings are confirmed in vivo, it may provide an effective approach for the treatment of prostate cancer. [Mol Cancer Ther 2005;4(12):1821–9]
The antifibrotic effects of relaxin in human renal fibroblasts are mediated in part by inhibition of the Smad2 pathway.

BACKGROUND The peptide hormone relaxin has been demonstrated to exert antifibrotic effects in renal and extrarenal tissues. The aims of this study were to identify potential anti-fibrotic effects of relaxin on human renal fibroblasts in vitro and to analyze their mechanisms. METHODS All experiments were performed in established renal fibroblast cell lines and in primary cortical fibroblasts. Effects of relaxin were analyzed on cell proliferation, apoptosis, activation of renal fibroblasts, synthesis and secretion of collagen type I and fibronectin, as well as on the secretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Effects on transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) receptor binding were analyzed by flow cytometry and on TGF-beta1 signal transduction by immunoblot analyses for Smad4 and 7, translocation from cytosol to nucleus for Smad2 and 3 as well as for phosphorylated and unphosphorylated forms of p38, c-Jun NH2 terminal kinase (JNK) and extracellular-regulated protein kinase (ERK). Finally, specific siRNAs for Smad2 and 3 were applied to assess the signal transduction pathway. RESULTS After stimulation with relaxin, tyrosine phosphorylation of a 220 kD protein was demonstrated, indicating interaction with the receptor. Relaxin had only modest inhibitory effects on cell proliferation, and no effects on apoptosis. Conversely, relaxin exerted robust effects on TGF-beta1-induced fibroblast to myofibroblast transformation as well as on matrix synthesis and secretion even at the smallest dose tested. The secretion of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was induced noticeably by all investigated relaxin concentrations. TGF-beta1 receptor binding was not influenced by relaxin; however, it prevented Smad2 phosphorylation, translocation to nucleus, and complex formation between Smad2 and 3 indicating a possible interaction with TGF-beta1 signaling. These findings were corroborated by studies using siRNAs to Smad2 and 3 where siRNA to Smad2 but not to Smad3 inhibited the TGF-beta1 induction of fibronectin synthesis. There was no influence of relaxin on intracellular Smad3, Smad4, and Smad7 translocation or phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases. CONCLUSION Relaxin is a potent inhibitor of TGF-beta1-induced extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis and secretion as well as fibroblast activation. Furthermore, it induces ECM degradation by induction of MMP-2 and MMP-9. These effects are mediated, at least in part, by inhibition of TGF-beta1 signaling.
Clopidogrel and calcium-channel blockers: a clinically important interaction?

Antiplatelet treatment has a pivotal role in modern management of coronary artery disease, and use of clopidogrel has facilitated the emergence of intravascular stenting as common cardiological practice. However, clopidogrel responsiveness is heterogeneous within the population, with a sizeable proportion seemingly unresponsive to its antiplatelet effects and at higher risk of cardiovascular events as a result.1 2 Clopidogrel is a pro-drug that is metabolised by cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes (including the 3A4 and 2C19 isoforms) to an active thiol metabolite that antagonises the platelet adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptor P2Y12. Carriers of loss-of-function polymorphisms in the genes coding for CYP2C19 have lower levels of the active metabolite, reduced clopidogrel-induced platelet inhibition and are at increased risk of cardiovascular events and stent thrombosis, compared with non-carriers.3 Drugs that inhibit hepatic CYP450 enzymes might be expected to reduce clopidogrel activation in a similar way with similar adverse clinical results. Calcium-channel blockers (CCBs) are frequently used in patients with cardiovascular disease; both non-dihydropyridine and dihydropyridine CCBs are metabolised by, and inhibit, the 3A4 isoform of CYP450 and have potential for interaction with other drugs in this way.4 In this issue of Heart , Gremmel and colleagues describe a prospective observational study of the influence of …
Mechanistic Studies of the Bypass of a Bulky Single-base Lesion Catalyzed by a Y-family DNA Polymerase*

1-Nitropyrene, the most abundant nitro polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in diesel emissions, has been found to react with DNA to form predominantly N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-1-aminopyrene (dGAP). This bulky adduct has been shown to induce genetic mutations, which may implicate Y-family DNA polymerases in its bypass in vivo. To establish a kinetic mechanism for the bypass of such a prototype single-base lesion, we employed pre-steady-state kinetic methods to investigate individual nucleotide incorporations upstream, opposite, and downstream from a site-specifically placed dGAP lesion catalyzed by Sulfolobus solfataricus DNA polymerase IV (Dpo4), a model Y-family DNA polymerase. Dpo4 was able to bypass dGAP but paused strongly at two sites: opposite the lesion and immediately downstream from the lesion. Both nucleotide incorporation efficiency and fidelity decreased significantly at the pause sites, especially during extension of the bypass product. Interestingly, a 4-fold tighter binding affinity of damaged DNA to Dpo4 promoted catalysis through putative interactions between the active site residues of Dpo4 and 1-aminopyrene moiety at the first pause site. In the presence of a DNA trap, the kinetics of nucleotide incorporation at these sites was biphasic in which a small, fast phase preceded a larger, slow phase. In contrast, only a large, fast phase was observed during nucleotide incorporation at non-pause sites. Our kinetic studies support a general kinetic mechanism for lesion bypass catalyzed by numerous DNA polymerases.
On the Ability of IEEE 802.11p and STDMA to Provide Predictable Channel Access

Emerging traffic safety applications requiring low delay communications will need vehicle ad-hoc networks. The only communication standard currently supporting this is IEEE 802.11p. However, 802.11p uses the medium access method CSMA/CA, which has a major drawback: unbounded worst case channel access delay. We therefore propose an algorithm already in commercial use in the shipping industry: STDMA. With STDMA, nodes always get predictable channel access regardless of the number of competing nodes and the maximum delay is deterministic. In this paper we elaborated with different parameter settings for the two protocols with the aim of improving performance without altering the standards.
Baseline Capture Rates and Roosting Habits of Myotis septentrionalis (Northern Long-Eared Bat) Prior to White-Nose Syndrome Detection in the Southern Appalachians

Abstract Myotis septentrionalis (Northern Long-eared Bat) is a federally threatened insectivorous bat facing devastating population declines due to white-nose syndrome (WNS). Our study provides pre-WNS (2009) capture rates and roosting-behavior data for Northern Long-eared Bats in the southern Appalachians. We conducted mist-net surveys at 37 sites and radio-tracked female Northern Long-eared Bats to their day roosts in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina. We compared tree and plot characteristics for roosts and corresponding random trees using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. Our 43 survey nights yielded 302 bats of 11 species; Northern Long-eared Bats were the most commonly captured species (n = 97). We located 14 unique roosts for 7 radio-tracked bats; Pinus strobus (White Pine) snags (n = 8) were the most common roost sites. We observed a colony of 72 bats using a White Pine snag as a maternity roost. Roost trees were significantly larger in diameter and had more solar exposure above the roost and within the plot than random trees. Our data show the high abundance of Northern Long-eared Bats pre-WNS, highlight the use of White Pine roosts in an area impacted by a Dendroctonus frontalis (Southern Pine Beetle) outbreak, and support previous determinations of roost-selection flexibility by Northern Long-eared Bats across their range.