Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Credit risk and rating assignments with parent-subsidiary links

This paper explores the relationship between leverage, credit risk and rating when a parent issues a guarantee for its subsidiarys debt. It analyzes the consequences of the guarantee on rating assignments, when the subsidiarys leverage is either exogenous or at its optimal level. It computes rating assignments on the basis of a structural model of credit risk for the two rms that explicitly incorporates the guarantee in favour of the subsidiary. Default probability is lower and overall credit quality rating included is higher in the subsidiary than in a stand alone company, thanks to the guarantee, if its debt is xed. However, the opposite result can hold at the optimal level of debt, since the guarantee allows to raise much higher external nancing from the subsidiary thus increasing bankruptcy costs together with tax avoidance. Starting from a BBB situation, we show that, under optimal leverage, the credit standing and rating of the subsidiary can either improve or worsen, depending on the correlation between the holding and the subsidiary operating pro t. We perform a symmetric analysis for the holding. Our model reproduces the positive relationship between rating gaps in groups and selective default observed in practice. It also di¤erentiates spreads, for given rating, according to the ownership status (parent, subsidiary), while reproducing on average per-rating observed spreads. Keywords: credit risk, default risk, structural models, rating assignment, parent-subsidiary. JEL classi cation numbers: G32, G33, G34. Università di Torino, ICER and Collegio Carlo Alberto. Corresponding Author. Address: University of Turin, Piazza Arbarello, 8 10121 Turin, ITALY. elisa.luciano@unito.it, Ph: +39-011.670 5230, Fax: +39-011.670 5082. yUniversità di Torino and Collegio Carlo Alberto.
Pressure‐volume relationships above and below atmospheric pressure in the synovial cavity of the rabbit knee.

1. The pressure‐volume relationship in the synovial cavity of the rabbit knee was investigated by the infusion of a non‐absorbable oil into the cavity. 2. The pressure (P)‐volume (V) curve was sigmoid. Its slope dP/dV (elastance) was steep at subatmospheric, physiological pressures, least steep at 5 cm H2O, and steepened progressively at higher, pathological pressures. 3. Elastance dP/dV was a good approximation to linear functions of P below atmospheric pressure and above 5 cm H2O. Each part of the pressure‐volume relationship could therefore be described by an exponential expression. 4. Flexion of the joint increased pressure at a given volume. This was mainly due to steepening of the pressure‐volume curve, and also partly due to a shift towards the pressure axis. 5. Pressure‐volume curves determined by the infusion of normal saline or Krebs solution were grossly distorted, because these fluids were absorbed across the permeable synovium. 6. The physiological significance of the synovial pressure‐volume curve is discussed, and mechanical explanations of the curve are suggested.
Impact of Working Capital Management on the Profitability of Firms: Case of Listed Pakistani Companies

This study examines relationship between measures of working capital management and corporate profitability. Working capital management is an important element of financial management for many firms as they make significant investment in working capital components. Applying fixed effect estimation model, we find a significant negative relation between firm’s profitability and various components of the working capital management. These results suggest that managers can improve firm’s profitability, and consequently, enhance firm value, through the efficient management of working capital components.
FT‐IR Spectrophotometric Analysis of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and its Pharmaceutical Formulations

Abstract A Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectrometric method was developed for the rapid, direct measurement of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in different pharmaceutical products. Conventional KBr spectra were compared for the best determination of active substance in drug preparations. Lambert‐Beer's law and two chemometric approaches, partial least squares (PLS) and principal component regression (PCR+) methods, were used in data processing.
A Single Ala139-to-Glu Substitution in the Renibacterium salmoninarum Virulence-Associated Protein p57 Results in Antigenic Variation and Is Associated with Enhanced p57 Binding to Chinook Salmon Leukocytes

ABSTRACT The gram-positive bacterium Renibacterium salmoninarum produces relatively large amounts of a 57-kDa protein (p57) implicated in the pathogenesis of salmonid bacterial kidney disease. Antigenic variation in p57 was identified by using monoclonal antibody 4C11, which exhibited severely decreased binding to R. salmoninarum strain 684 p57 and bound robustly to the p57 proteins of seven other R. salmoninarum strains. This difference in binding was not due to alterations in p57 synthesis, secretion, or bacterial cell association. The molecular basis of the 4C11 epitope loss was determined by amplifying and sequencing the two identical genes encoding p57, msa1 and msa2. The 5′ and coding sequences of the 684 msa1 and msa2 genes were identical to those of the ATCC 33209 msa1 and msa2 genes except for a single C-to-A nucleotide mutation. This mutation was identified in both the msa1 and msa2 genes of strain 684 and resulted in an Ala139-to-Glu substitution in the amino-terminal region of p57. We examined whether this mutation in p57 altered salmonid leukocyte and rabbit erythrocyte binding activities. R. salmoninarum strain 684 extracellular protein exhibited a twofold increase in agglutinating activity for chinook salmon leukocytes and rabbit erythrocytes compared to the activity of the ATCC 33209 extracellular protein. A specific and quantitative p57 binding assay confirmed the increased binding activity of 684 p57. Monoclonal antibody 4C11 blocked the agglutinating activity of the ATCC 33209 extracellular protein but not the agglutinating activity of the 684 extracellular protein. These results indicate that the Ala139-to-Glu substitution altered immune recognition and was associated with enhanced biological activity of R. salmoninarum 684 p57.
Model risk: illuminating the black box

Abstract This paper presents latest thinking from the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries’ Model Risk Working Party and follows on from their Phase I work, Model Risk: Daring to Open the Black Box. This is a more practical paper and presents the contributors’ experiences of model risk gained from a wide range of financial and non-financial organisations with suggestions for good practice and proven methods to reduce model risk. After a recap of the Phase I work, examples of model risk communication are given covering communication: to the Board; to the regulator; and to external stakeholders. We present a practical framework for model risk management and quantification with examples of the key actors, processes and cultural challenge. Lessons learned are then presented from other industries that make extensive use of models and include the weather forecasting, software and aerospace industries. Finally, a series of case studies in practical model risk management and mitigation are presented from the contributors’ own experiences covering primarily financial services.
Promoted Interaction of C/EBPα with Demethylated Cxcr3 Gene Promoter Contributes to Neuropathic Pain in Mice

DNA methylation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic pain. However, the specific genes regulated by DNA methylation under neuropathic pain condition remain largely unknown. Here we investigated how chemokine receptor CXCR3 is regulated by DNA methylation and how it contributes to neuropathic pain induced by spinal nerve ligation (SNL) in mice. SNL increased Cxcr3 mRNA and protein expression in the neurons of the spinal cord. Meanwhile, the CpG (5′-cytosine-phosphate-guanine-3′) island in the Cxcr3 gene promoter region was demethylated, and the expression of DNA methyltransferase 3b (DNMT3b) was decreased. SNL also increased the binding of CCAAT (cytidine–cytidine–adenosine–adenosine–thymidine)/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα) with Cxcr3 promoter and decreased the binding of DNMT3b with Cxcr3 promoter in the spinal cord. C/EBPα expression was increased in spinal neurons after SNL, and inhibition of C/EBPα by intrathecal small interfering RNA attenuated SNL-induced pain hypersensitivity and reduced Cxcr3 expression. Furthermore, SNL-induced mechanical allodynia and heat hyperalgesia were markedly reduced in Cxcr3−/− mice. Spinal inhibition of Cxcr3 by shRNA or CXCR3 antagonist also attenuated established neuropathic pain. Moreover, CXCL10, the ligand of CXCR3, was increased in spinal neurons and astrocytes after SNL. Superfusing spinal cord slices with CXCL10 enhanced spontaneous EPSCs and potentiated NMDA-induced and AMPA-induced currents of lamina II neurons. Finally, intrathecal injection of CXCL10 induced CXCR3-dependent pain hypersensitivity in naive mice. Collectively, our results demonstrated that CXCR3, increased by DNA demethylation and the enhanced interaction with C/EBPα, can be activated by CXCL10 to facilitate excitatory synaptic transmission and contribute to the maintenance of neuropathic pain. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Peripheral nerve injury induces changes of gene expression in the spinal cord that may contribute to the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain. CXCR3 is a chemokine receptor. Whether it is involved in neuropathic pain and how it is regulated after nerve injury remain largely unknown. Our study demonstrates that spinal nerve ligation downregulates the expression of DNMT3b, which may cause demethylation of Cxcr3 gene promoter and facilitate the binding of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α with Cxcr3 promoter and further increase CXCR3 expression in spinal neurons. The upregulated CXCR3 may contribute to neuropathic pain by facilitating central sensitization. Our study reveals an epigenetic mechanism underlying CXCR3 expression and also suggests that targeting the expression or activation of CXCR3 signaling may offer new therapeutics for neuropathic pain.
Compact and Low-Profile Textile EBG-Based Antenna for Wearable Medical Applications

A compact wearable antenna with a novel miniaturized electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) structure at 2.4 GHz for medical application is presented in this letter. The design demonstrates a robust, compact, and low-profile solution to meet the requirements of wearable applications. The EBG structure reduces the back radiation and the impact of frequency detuning due to the high losses of human body. In addition, the structure improves the front-to-back ratio (FBR) by 15.5 dB. The proposed compact antenna with dimensions of ${\text{46}}\,\times \,{\text{46}}\,\times \,{\text{2.4 mm}}^{3}$ yields an impedance bandwidth of 27% (2.17–2.83 GHz), with a gain enhancement of 7.8 dBi and more than 95% reduction in the specific absorption rate. Therefore, the antenna is a promising candidate for integration into wearable devices applied in various domains, specifically biomedical technology.
Corporate social responsibility and its influencing factors in Estonian and Japanese enterprises

The purpose of this paper is to investigate corporate social responsibility and its influencing factors in Estonian and Japanese enterprises. The results indicate significant differences, as well as similarities, between individual level factors – job satisfaction, meaning of work, attitude toward the firm; and between organizational level factors – powerfulness of firm in competition against rivals, behavior of management, policy of firm and in facets of corporate social responsibility – firm performance concerning social issues and firm respect concerning interests of agents. Differences and similarities in various countries concerning corporate social responsibility are influenced by different cultural and historical backgrounds.
Patients' perspectives on the management of emotional distress in primary care settings

ObjectiveTo investigate how important treatment for emotional distress is to primary care patients in general and to primary care patients with depression, and to evaluate the types of mental health interventions they desire.DesignPatient surveys.SettingFive private primary care practices.Measurements and main resultsPatients' desire for treatment of emotional distress and for specific types of mental health interventions were measured, as well as patients' ratings of the impact of emotional distress, the frequency of depressive symptoms, and mental health functioning. Of the 403 patients, 33% felt that it was “somewhat important” and 30% thought it was “extremely important” that their physician tries to help them with their emotional distress. Patient desire for this help was significantly related to a diagnosis of depression (P<.001), perceptions about the impact of emotional distress (p<.001), and mental health functioning (p<.001). Among patients with presumptive diagnoses of major and minor depression, 84% and 79%, respectively, felt that it was at least somewhat important that they receive this help from their physician. Sixty-one percent of all primary care patients surveyed and 89% of depressed patients desired counseling; 23% of all patients and 33% of depressed patients wanted a medication; and 11% of all patients and 5% of depressed patients desired a referral to a mental health specialist.ConclusionsA majority of these primary care patients and almost all of the depressed patients felt that it was at least somewhat important to receive help from their physician for emotional distress. The desire for this help seems to be related to the severity of the mental health problem. Most of the patients wanted counseling, but relatively few desired a referral to a mental health specialist.
Progressive aortic root and pulmonary artery aneurysms in a neonate with Loeys–Dietz syndrome type 1B

Loeys–Dietz Syndrome (LDS) is an autosomal dominant aortic aneurysm syndrome with multisystem involvement, caused by heterozygous mutations of transforming growth factor β receptor type 1 (TGFBR1) or type 2 (TGFBR2) genes. We report on a neonate with the disorder caused by a known TGFBR2 mutation, who developed neonatal‐onset progressive dilation of the aortic valve and aneurysms of the aortic root and main pulmonary artery (PA) associated with a large left‐to‐right shunt via a ventricular septal defect (VSD) and an atrial septal defect. He also had skeletal features (flexion contractures of the fingers, talipes equinovarus, a cleft palate, and joint laxity), mild facial dysmorphisms, and developmental delay. The dilation and aneurysms progressed after PA banding at age 12 days; and the patient received an intracardiac repair of the defects and PA plasty at age 42 days, followed by no further progression of the dilation and the aneurysms. Neonates with generalized hypotonia, a cleft palate, inguinal herniae, musculoskeletal features such as camptodactyly and talipes equinovarus, and a cardiac murmur should be suspected to have LDS, and extensive cardiovascular evaluation and testing of TGFBR1 and TGFBR2 are recommended. LDS patients with cardiac defects that lead to a large left‐to‐right shunt and congestive heart failure such as VSD should be considered for intracardiac repair even in early infancy. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Better Firm Performance with Employees on the Board

This book explores the revolutionary development of the theory of the firm over the past 35 years. Despite rapid progress in the field, new developments in the microeconomic and industrial organization literature have been relatively scant. This book attempts to redress the balance by providing a comprehensive overview of the theory of the firm before moving on to examine firms and the organization of their economic activities. The contributors also investigate the impact of ownership structure and board composition on firm performance and study how the institutional framework of an economy affects investment decisions.
THE USE of Innovative Pedagogies in Nursing Education: An International Perspective

ABSTRACT The purpose of this global study was to explore the types of innovative pedagogies used in nursing education worldwide; transformative learning theory served as the theoretical basis for the study. A descriptive, mixed‐method design with a researcher‐developed instrument was used to conduct the electronic survey. Respondents were 946 nurse educator members of Sigma Theta Tau International; more than 93 percent were Caucasian women. Respondents indicated that the conventional teacher‐centered approach remains the most prevalent pedagogical style (56 percent); fewer than 20 percent of respondents used feminist or postmodern approaches. Ninety percent of respondents reported using instruments to evaluate the effectiveness of their teaching. The majority viewed their faculty role as facilitator (88 percent) or information provider (65 percent). Greater efforts are needed to create an evidence base for nursing education through research that focuses on the effectiveness of innovative pedagogical strategies. This study, by describing the current patterns of teaching/learning strategies and approaches used by nurse educators, provides a beginning research base for improving nursing education.
Restriction fragment length polymorphism of the pMJ101-like plasmid and ribotyping in the fish pathogen Vibrio ordalii

Summary A total of 32 Vibrio ordalii strains were studied for their plasmid content and shown to carry a plasmid of approximately 32 kb. This plasmid was subsequently subjected to restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) studies. Using Hind III, three different restriction patterns were identified while BamHI cleaved the plasmid into a single linear fragment. The results suggest that the 32 kb plasmid is highly conserved but that some variation in restriction pattern occurs. The same set of strains was subjected to ribotyping. Using Mlu I, six different restriction patterns were demonstrated. Strains from the USA and Canada shared profiles with strains from Australia and Japan. Strains from Australia generated a single pattern whereas strains from North America were subdivided into three patterns, and the Japanese strains fell into five patterns. The results suggest that ribotyping in combination with RFLP studies of the pMJ101-like plasmid may be useful in epidemiological studies of V. ordalii.
Impact of Voluntary Accreditation on Short‐Stay Rehabilitative Measures in U.S. Nursing Homes

Purpose To examine accreditation from nursing homes accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and whether this is associated with improved rehabilitation care. Design Cross‐sectional association of CARF accreditation and quality. Methods Comparison of the short‐stay quality measures (influenza and pneumococcal vaccination; pain; delirium; pressures sores; five‐star quality and health inspection scores) between the sample of 246 CARF‐accredited homes compared with the 15,393 nursing homes in the 2010 On‐Line Survey Certification of Automated Records (OSCAR). Findings CARF‐accredited nursing homes demonstrate better quality with regard to the short‐stay quality measures. Conclusions Approaches beyond traditional regulation and governmental inspections are necessary to improve the quality of care in nursing homes. Clinical Relevance During a patient's rehabilitation stay, minimizing iatrogenic complications is paramount. Given the findings of this study, it is unfortunate that very few nursing homes are CARF accredited.
Determinants of co-creation in banking services

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that favor the activity of co-creation with customers in the banking sector. The way in which consumers co-create with banking organizations was also examined. Design/methodology/approach The “dialogue, access, risk and transparency” model was employed with the variables dialogue, access, risk assessment and transparency, as per Prahalad and Ramaswamy (2004). The final data sample accounted for 265 clients of a large Brazilian bank and multiple linear regression was used to analyze the data. Findings The results indicated a significant and positive association with access, risk assessment and transparency when the bank co-created with these clients. Dialogue did not appear significantly affect to the co-creative process between clients and the bank. Research limitations/implications The study was conducted with customers of only one major Brazilian bank. The authors recommend that the same study is conducted in other retail banks, investment banks and smaller banks, with a specialized focus. Limitations notwithstanding, the outstanding findings of this research relate to customer perceptions, which, it should be noted, do not necessarily reflect the totality of the relationship between client and bank. Originality/value Understanding co-creation in the banking sector is a new learning perspective on consumer behavior and interactions within the service production process. The justification and relevance of this study derive from the construction of this knowledge and the scarcity of empirical work in this area.
Personal branding or employee advocacy : expert's use of social networking site

This paper deals with social media in building experts’ professional images. In the theoretical part, online communities are discussed in the light of the paper’s topic. The study relies on technological adoption models, and in particular, the UTAUT (Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology) 2 model. In the empirical part, the use of LinkedIn was analyzed as the major tool for professional networking. Our research results suggest that the use of LinkedIn has been initiated mostly by invitation or encouragement of another user. Only in rare occasions, self-branding was reported as the primary motivation to register into LinkedIn. Self-presentation was improved in the process of using the service, as the users became more acquainted with the nature of the service. Experts presented themselves in a minimalistic manner at the beginning. Thus, it would not be accurate to characterize it as strong self-branding. However, they had created personal brands, and they consistently attempted to maintain it. LinkedIn was mainly used to search for professional information and track their friends. The experts could also discuss marketing their own employer company on LinkedIn resulting a shift towards the company's employee advocacy. However, experts wanted to market their employee company only if it is motivating to them and supports their personal expert brand. Our study indicates that, on a practical level, it could be advisable to encourage employees to use LinkedIn actively. However, as a prerequisite, companies should ensure overall job satisfaction, and check that employer/employee relations are fully operational in order to achieve the best possible results of marketing.
firm risk and performance: the role of corporate governance in Amfirst reit

This paper examines the relationships between corporate government and firm performance and its impact on firm performance and risk of real estate investment trust (AmFIRST REIT). Researchers have to assumed what is the different forms of corporate government and firm performance there is no interact in their effect on its impact on firm performance and risk of real estate investment trust (AmFIRST REIT). The data obtained from annual report of AmFIRST REIT starting from 2011-2015. Focus on ratio which is return on asset, return on investment, return on equity, current ratio, total asset turnover and debt ratio. Corporate executive shareholdings supplement have the relationship between outside institutional shareholdings and with their firms performance in this industry. All this findings suggest that internal and external coalitions interact with each other to influences the firms conduct.