Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Credit Rating Changes and Subordinated Bond Spread: Evidence from China

We examine the bond spread reaction to subordinated bond rating changes during the sample period of 2006 to 2011 and find that bond spread reacted positively to downgrades, big in magnitude, but not statistically significant. The bond spread reaction to upgrades, however, was mixed and statistically insignificant, and small in magnitude. We conjecture that the insignificant statistical results regarding the effect of rating changes may be due to the lack of informational content of the ratings assigned to the subordinated bonds by Chinese credit rating agencies (CRAs).
Co‐existence of Philadelphia chromosome positive acute megakaryoblastic and B‐lymphoblastic mixed blast crisis of chronic myeloid leukemia with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

In this study, we describe an extremely rare case of co‐existence of a Philadelphia chromosome positive acute megakaryoblastic and B‐lymphoblastic mixed blast crisis of chronic myeloid leukemia with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. A morphological, immunophenotypical and cytogenetic study has been performed to characterize the case and in order to identify the origin of two disorders. After the failure of the conventional therapy, the patient was treated with Imatinib with a complete hematological and cytogenetic response and a marked reduction of bone marrow fibrosis.
Multi-view object co-segmentation based on the mixture of links model

We present a novel mixture of links model to segment an object observed from multiple viewpoints. Each component in this mixture represents a temporal linkage between superpixels from all the viewpoints, hence expressing the inter-view consistency. The principle goal is to find the maximum a posterior estimate of appearance models and the exact bounding-box of object in each view. To this end, the segmentation is casted as finding more comprehensive and accurate samples using the mixture of links model. In contrast to most existing multi-view co-segmentation methods that rely on time-consuming 3D information, our method only uses 2D cues to achieve faster speed without decreasing the accuracy. The experimental results confirm the effectiveness of our approach.
The Case of the Missing Market: The Bond Market and Why It Matters for Financial Development

Over the last decade interest in the role of finance in economic growth has revived. Building from the pioneering work of Goldsmith (1965) and the insights of Shaw (1973) and McKinnon (1973), the more recent work examines the role of financial institutions and financial markets in corporate governance and the consequent implications for economic growth and development. Levine (1997) and Stulz (2000) have provided excellent reviews of this literature and Allen and Gale (2000) have extended it by developing a framework for comparing bank-based financial systems with market-based financial systems. Although the literature addresses "capital markets," on closer inspection the main focus is really equity markets. Bond markets are almost completely overlooked. Although the omission of the bond market is not defended in the literature, one could argue that it does little violence to reality. As Table 1 shows, in most emerging economies in Asia, bond markets are very small relative to the banking system or equity markets. Moreover, the most striking theoretical results flow from a comparison of debt contracts with equity contracts and at a high level of abstraction bank lending can proxy for all debt. In any event, data are much more readily available for equity markets and the banking system than for bond markets, even in the United States.
Plant Divestitures and Acquisitions in the Canadian Manufacturing Sector

This paper examines the characteristics of plants in the manufacturing sector undergoing changes in ownership to further our understanding of the underlying causes of mergers and acquisitions. Previous Canadian studies (Baldwin 1995; Baldwin and Caves 1991) compare the performance of merged plants at the beginning and the end of the 1970s. This paper examines annual changes that occurred over the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s to provide a longer-run perspective. In doing so, it outlines the amount of change taking place (both the number of plants affected and the share of employment) and the characteristics of plants that led to their takeover. Differences between foreign and domestic takeovers are also examined.
Corporate Governance, Firm Performance, and Information Leakage: an Empirical Analysis of the Chinese Stock Market

The purpose of this thesis is to analyse the effect of corporate governance on firm performance and information leakage in the Chinese securities market. As one of the major emerging markets in the world, the results of this thesis are valuable not only to the Chinese market, but also to other emerging markets. To achieve this purpose, data is collected from most of the non-financial listed companies in the two Chinese stock exchanges, which are the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock exchange. The data sample covers the period from 2004 to 2008, since there was a series of new reforms in the Chinese stock market at that time. These reforms include new legislation and the reduction of non-tradable shares. Then this thesis employs the panel technique and the pooled OLS to estimate the effect of corporate governance on firm performance and information leakage in Chinese listed companies. Firstly the relationship between corporate governance and firm performance in Chinese companies is empirically evaluated. The empirical results of this thesis find that the ownership structure of Chinese companies will affect their firm performance. In this thesis, proxies of ownership structure include the proportion of institutional ownership, the proportion of the state ownership, the proportion of shareholdings of the largest shareholder, and the proportion of tradable shares in Chinese companies. A greater proportion of iv institutional ownership has positive effects on firm performance in Chinese companies. Board subcommittees also help Chinese companies to increase firm performance. The market reforms of 2006 also help Chinese companies to increase their firm performance. However, the board of directors and board of supervisors do not affect firm performance in Chinese companies. Secondly, information leakage in the Chinese Stock Market is empirically assessed. If investors receive corporate material information before the public disclosure, this phenomenon is known as information leakage. The thesis finds that information leakage in the Chinese market is widespread. Finally, the thesis empirically examines the effects of corporate governance on information leakage in Chinese companies. Board subcommittees have negative effects on information leakage in Chinese companies. Other variables of corporate governance do not affect information leakage in Chinese companies. Additionally, the thesis finds that market reform promotes more information leakage in Chinese market. On the basis of the empirical results, the thesis provides the following recommendations. First, the Chinese Stock Market needs to reform the relevant legislation. Second, Chinese companies need to reform their ownership structure. These suggestions may strengthen the internal governance of Chinese listed companies, thereby, increasing firm performance and decrease information leakage.
Pancreatic Hypertrophy in Ki-ras-Induced Actin-Interacting Protein Gene Knockout Mice

Objectives: Pancreatic functions were determined in a Ki-ras-induced actin-interacting protein (KRAP)-deficient (−/−) mouse mutant. Methods: Pancreatic enzyme, protein, and DNA contents were measured, and histological examinations were conducted. The mixture of bile-pancreatic juice was collected, and amylase and bile acid outputs were determined. Oral glucose tolerance test was determined. Moreover, the gene expression of KRAP was determined in cholecystokinin (CCK)-A(1) receptor (−/−) mice. Results: The body weight was smaller, and the ratio of pancreatic wet weight/body weight was higher in KRAP(−/−) mice compared with wild-type mice. The enzyme contents, but not DNA content, in the pancreas of KRAP(−/−) mice were higher than those of wild-type mice. Histological examination revealed the increase in the number of zymogen granules in the pancreatic acinar cells of KRAP(−/−) mice. Amylase secretions in response to CCK-octapeptide sulfate were significantly higher in KRAP(−/−) than wild-type mice, whereas the basal secretion did not differ between the 2 genotypes. A normal glucose tolerance was observed in KRAP(−/−) mice. The gene expression of KRAP in CCK-A(1) receptor (−/−) mice was significantly lower than in wild-type mice. Conclusions: The lack and/or decrease in KRAP level in the pancreas may promote the pancreatic growth and hypertrophy.
Hepcidin targets ferroportin for degradation in hepatocytes

Hepcidin, a circulating regulatory hormone peptide produced by hepatocytes, functions as the master regulator of cellular iron export by controlling the amount of ferroportin, an iron exporter present on the basolateral surface of intestinal enterocytes and macrophages. Hepcidin binding to ferroportin induces its internalization and degradation, resulting in cellular iron retention and decreased iron export. Whether hepatocytes express ferroportin that could be targeted by hepcidin has remained a subject of debate. Here, we describe a hepatocyte culture system expressing high levels of ferroportin, and demonstrate that both endogenously secreted and synthetic hepcidin are fully active in down-regulating membrane-associated ferroportin. In agreement with this result, ferroportin is stabilized in liver hepatocytes of hepcidin-deficient mice and accumulates in periportal areas, supporting the centrolobular iron deposition observed in these mice. In conclusion, we show that hepcidin can trigger ferroportin degradation in hepatocytes, which must be taken into account when considering hepcidin therapeutics.
Nanoscale Phase Change Memory with Graphene Ribbon Electrodes

Phase change memory (PCM) devices are known to reduce in power consumption as the bit volume and contact area of their electrodes are scaled down. Here, we demonstrate two types of low-power PCM devices with lateral graphene ribbon electrodes: one in which the graphene is patterned into narrow nanoribbons and the other where the phase change material is patterned into nanoribbons. The sharp graphene "edge" contacts enable switching with threshold voltages as low as ~3 V, low programming currents ( 100. Large-scale fabrication with graphene grown by chemical vapor deposition also enables the study of heterogeneous integration and that of variability for such nanomaterials and devices.
An Examination of the Impact of Voluntary Disclosure on Post-Earnings Announcement Drift

This study investigates the impact of voluntary disclosure in the form of management earnings guidance on post-earnings announcement drift (PEAD). Prior research contends that investors' delayed response to the information contained in earnings contributes to PEAD. This delayed response occurs because either investors fail to understand the full implications of current earnings for future earnings or transactions costs prevent a complete and immediate response to earnings news. To the extent that management earnings guidance (MEG) overcomes these shortcomings, I examine three research questions. First, does MEG mitigate PEAD? Second, what is causal channel through which MEG mitigates PEAD? Third, is the impact of MEG on PEAD sensitive to the quality of MEG? Using management earnings guidance data from First Call for the period between 1996 and 2006, I show that MEG mitigates PEAD. I also find that MEG not only improves the extent to which investors incorporate prior earnings information into their earnings expectations but also provides information about future earnings which is uncorrelated with prior earnings information. Further, I find the mitigation effect of guidance on PEAD increases with guidance quality in terms of precision, accuracy, and usefulness. Overall, my study provides evidence on the effectiveness of voluntary disclosure and the channel through which it can alleviate the accounting anomaly of PEAD.
The painful truth : A review of the clinical use of skin conductance monitoring for postoperative pain assessment

Accurate assessment of pain intensity remains a critical aspect of successful pain management. Currently, the most widely used method of assessment involves various self-report scales (Williamson & Hoggart, 2005). Self-report scales rely on a cooperative, reliable patient and therefore are of limited use with unconscious, preverbal or cognitively impaired individuals. For verbal children, there are over 30 pain scales available, each with their cognitive, social and developmental limitations (Stinson et al., 2006). In preverbal children, pain assessment relies on the use of observational scales to determine pain intensity (von Baeyer & Spagrud, 2007). Limitations of such observational scores include subjectivity, with observations easily confounded by behaviors related to fear or anxiety, and age and context specificity (procedural, postoperative, etc.). Given the numerous limitations of these observational assessments, an objective pain scale that is independent of subjective interpretation certainly sounds attractive. But is it realistic? The search for an objective measurement of pain is not new. A number of objective measures have been investigated from heart rate variability (Pomfrett, 1999) to even more sophisticated measures such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI; Wartolowska, 2011). Unfortunately, as of yet, none have been able to replace subjective self-report scales. Skin conductance monitoring has been used in a number of scientific experiments, primarily in the field of psychology (Critchley, 2002). Experiments using galvanic skin responses in order to objectively measure pain have been conducted since the 1950s (Korotkov, 1953; Nisbet et al., 1967; Pakhomov & Ivanov, 1969). A study by Savino et al. (2013) is the most recent in number of studies attempting to use the latest in skin conductance technology as an objective measure of pain. This commentary will review the clinical use of skin conductance as an objective measure of postoperative pain and discuss the current state of research as well as its limitations.
Enhancement of phorbol ester‐induced protein kinase activity in human neutrophils by platelet‐activating factor

We have shown that platelet‐activating factor (PAF), a weak primary stimulus for neutrophil superoxide generation, synergistically enhances neutrophil oxidative responses to the tumor promoter phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). Since PMA is known to cause cytosol‐to‐membrane shift of calcium‐activated, phospholipid‐dependent protein kinase (protein kinase c, PKC) in human neutrophils, we investigated the role of PAF in modifying PMA‐induced PKC activation/translocation. Protein kinase activity was measured as the incorporation of 32P from γ‐32P‐ATP into histone H1 induced by enzyme in cytosolic and particulate fractions from sonicated human neutrophils. PAF did not alter the sharp decrease in cytosolic PKC activity induced by PMA. However, in the presence of PAF and PMA, total particulate protein kinase activity increased markedly over that detected in the presence of PMA alone (144 ± 9 pmoles 32P/107PMN/minute in cells treated with 20 ng/ml PMA compared to 267 ± 24 pmoles 32P in cells exposed to PMA and 10−6M PAF). The increase in total particulate protein kinase activity was synergistic for the two stimuli, required the presence of cytochalasin B during stimulation, and occurred at PAF concentration of 10−7and M above. Both PKC and calcium‐, phospholipid‐independent protein kinase activities in whole particulate fractions were augmented by PAF as were both activities in detergent‐extractable particulate subfractions. PAF did not directly activate PKC obtained from control or PMA‐treated neutrophils. However, the PKC‐enhancing effect of PAF was inhibited in the absence of calcium during cellular stimulation. PAF also increased particulate protein kinase activity in cells simultaneously exposed to FMLP but the effect was additive for these stimuli. These results suggest that PAF enhances PMA‐induced particulate PKC activity by a calcium‐dependent mechanism. The enhancing effect of PAF may be directly involved in the mechanism whereby the phospholipid “primes” neutrophils for augmented oxidative responses to PMA.
i ASSESSMENT OF BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS IN DAIRY FARMS AND ITS PUBLIC HEALTH IMPORTANCE IN AND AROUND ADIGRAT DISTRICT By ATAKLTI HADUSH GIRMAY

A cross sectional study was conducted from September 2014 to June 2015 on 384 cattle from 68 dairy farms in and around Adigrat District, North East Ethiopia, to determine the prevalence and assessment of bovine tuberculosis (BTB) and its public health significance, camparatve intradermal tuberculin test(CIDT) and microbiological tests were used in the diagnosis of BTB in
Treating children with phonological problems: does an eclectic approach to therapy work?

BACKGROUND A survey of clinicians made by Joffe and Pring in 2008 revealed that different approaches exist between researchers and clinicians in the treatment of children with phonological problems. Researchers have examined specific approaches to treatment often giving substantial amounts of therapy and have obtained encouraging results; clinicians, with less time available, often use an eclectic approach mixing different treatment methods. The reasons for this difference are discussed. AIMS We examined the effectiveness of an eclectic approach giving amounts of therapy more consistent with clinical practice and involving parents in treating their children. METHODS & PROCEDURES We report two small experiments conducted within Speech and Language Therapy clinics. In the first, a group of treated children are compared with a group of children whose treatment is delayed. Parents attended therapy sessions and were given homework tasks to do with their children. The second compared children treated as in the first experiment with children treated at home by their parents who had attended training sessions and with untreated children. OUTCOMES & RESULTS In the first experiment, a general trend towards improvement was seen in all children. Change during treatment periods was statistically significant. In the second experiment, children treated by therapists showed strongly significant gains. Lesser but significant gains were made by children treated by their parents; no change was found in untreated children. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS The findings offer encouragement to clinicians who use an eclectic approach and who are only able to offer limited amounts of therapy. They also suggest that parental involvement is helpful. However, we find the current incompatibility of research and clinical work worrying and a hindrance to our efforts to understand and treat these children.
Revitalizing inner city retail?: The impact of the West Quay development on Southampton

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of the West Quay shopping centre development on the city of Southampton.Design/methodology/approach – The West Quay scheme parallels recent high‐profile openings of “regional shopping centres” in city centre locations (e.g. Birmingham's Bullring and Reading's Oracle), and like those centres has had a significant impact on the image and external appeal of the city. Using a combination of material from personal interviews with key players in the Southampton retail scene, statistical data collected by Hammerson (the owners of West Quay), and city centre health check information, the paper offers an assessment of the impact of the regional in‐town centre on Southampton more broadly and on the city centre specifically.Findings – Evidence suggests that the local effects of the centre's opening have not been as detrimental as was feared and that West Quay appears to be generating considerable synergy with Southampton's existing city centre. In addi.
Measuring the Effects of Segregation in the Presence of Social Spillovers: A Nonparametric Approach

In this paper we nonparametrically analyze the effects of reallocating individuals across social groups in the presence of social spillovers. Individuals are either 'high' or 'low' types. Own outcomes may vary with the fraction of high types in one's social group. We characterize the average outcome and inequality effects of small increases in segregation by type. We also provide a measure of average spillover strength. We generalize the setup used by Benabou (1996) and others to study sorting in the presence of social spillovers by incorporating unobserved individual- and group-level heterogeneity. We relate our reallocation estimands to this theory. For each estimand we provide conditions for nonparametric identification, propose estimators, and characterize their large sample properties. We also consider the social planner's problem. We illustrate our approach by studying the effects of sex segregation in classrooms on mathematics achievement.
Prolactin fluctuation over the course of a day during treatments with three atypical antipsychotics in schizophrenic patients

Hyperprolactinemia is a frequent consequence of treatment with some antipsychotic agents. Although prolactin secretion varies over the course of a day and during psychological circumstances, there is little information in the literature regarding the time dependence of the prolactin response to antipsychotics. We evaluated prolactin levels in schizophrenic patients receiving risperidone (3 mg twice daily), olanzapine (10 mg twice daily), or perospirone (16 mg twice daily) for at least 4 weeks. The subjects were compared to matched healthy controls. Plasma sample collection for quantification of drug and prolactin levels was conducted before and 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 h after the morning dosing. Prolactin concentrations before dosing during risperidone treatment were significantly higher than during treatment with olanzapine and perospirone in females. The daily fluctuation of prolactin concentration after perospirone treatment was larger than that observed after risperidone and olanzapine treatments. Areas under the plasma concentration‐time curves was greatest in subjects treated with risperidone, followed by perospirone and finally by olanzapine. These findings suggest that daily fluctuations in prolactin concentration after perospirone treatment are larger than following treatment with risperidone and olanzapine. The plasma concentration of prolactin during perospirone treatment therefore depends on the time of sampling. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Non-family CEOs in family firms - A Clash of Logics? : A study on how different logics and perceptions of professionalism shape expectations and affect relationships.

In the near future several Swedish family firms will face a need for succession. Many times there is no available successor within the family firm. Hiring a non-family CEO (NFC) is thus a solution to keep the firm within the family. Using a multiple case study with 6 participating family firms, we have identified how clashing logics between family business owners and NFCs, on the role of the NFC, influence their expectations and relationships. Clashing logics were often a source of disagreements and conflicts, leading to failure in the owner-NFC relationship. Furthermore, we have identified that the two parties often perceived the non-family CEO to offer more professional management which was a motive why family firms in this study hired NFCs. This perceived professionalism was also a reason for conflicting expectations. Adding to previous studies we also identified a series of influencing factors impacting the family business owner-NFC relationship. To conclude this study provides new insights for further research and practical recommendations for family firms in the process of hiring NFCs.