Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ultimate ownership structure and corporate disclosure quality: evidence from China

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the type of ultimate controllers (i.e. private vs state) affects corporate disclosure quality and whether the relationship between the type of ultimate controllers and corporate disclosure quality is moderated by the separation of ownership and control. Design/methodology/approach - This study employs the data of 405 Chinese listed firms in 2005. Annual reports were reviewed to collect the data including the type of ultimate owners, cash-flow rights, and control rights; and the ratings of corporate disclosure quality were obtained from the Shenzhen Stock Exchange website. Ordered logistic regression tested the hypotheses. Findings - It was found that corporate disclosure quality is lower for firms ultimately controlled by individuals than for firms ultimately controlled by the state. Also, the negative effect of private ultimate ownership on corporate disclosure quality is stronger for firms with high deviation of cash-flow rights and control rights. Practical implications - These findings suggest that privatizing state-owned companies may increase the expropriation of minority shareholders by controlling shareholders if the privatization does not reduce the separation of cash-flow rights from control rights. Thus, it may be necessary to strengthen the governance role of minority shareholders and constrain the divergence between cash-flow rights and control rights of the ultimate owners when state-owned companies are privatized. Originality/value - This study contributes to the literature on the expropriation of minority shareholders by examining the main effect of the type of ultimate controllers and the interactive effect of ultimate ownership type and the divergence of ownership and control on corporate disclosure quality.
Stability theorem for off‐axis states of a non‐neutral plasma column

A sufficient condition is given for the stability of a long non‐neutral plasma column that obeys two‐dimensional E×B dynamics. The column is confined by a uniform magnetic field and bounded by a conducting cylinder aligned with the field. The variational approach used here generalizes the well‐known stability of a centered, axisymmetric column, whose density is a monotonically decreasing function of radius. Displacement of such a column away from the axis by excitation of an l=1 diocotron mode yields a dynamical equilibrium stationary in a frame rotating with the mode. This new equilibrium is shown to be stable if the column is not too large. The analysis may explain, in part, the remarkable longevity observed for l=1 diocotron modes in experiments.
Early active motion after rigid internal fixation of unstable extra-articular fractures of the proximal phalanx

The purpose of this study is to describe active early rehabilitation in proximal phalanx fractures treated with rigid internal fixation. A total of 22 consecutive patients presenting with spiral, oblique or comminuted extra-articular fractures of the proximal phalanx were included in the study. All fractures were rigidly stabilized with plate and screws or screws alone and subsequently entered an active early rehabilitation programme. The mean follow-up period was 15.4 months (SD 10.1). Mean visual analogue scale pain score was 0.3 (SD 0.5) and Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score was 9.2 (SD 4.1). Mean total active motion was 241.9° (SD 18.3). According to the digital functional assessment, 86.3% of the patients had excellent results. Extension lags of the proximal interphalangeal joint were observed in seven fingers (mean lag, 3.4° (SD 5.5)). The results of this study demonstrated high patient satisfaction and good outcomes after the surgical technique and postoperative rehabilitation protocol described in open reduction and rigid internal fixation of proximal phalangeal fractures. Level of evidence: IV.
A comparative case study on clients participation in a 'traditional' and in an Agile software company

Agile literature suggests that the active and continuous participation and involvement of the clients throughout the project is key to building the right product and raise users' satisfaction. However, relatively little research has been made on comparing what makes clients happy in 'traditional' companies that use planed-driven processes and in agile companies. In turn, it's hard to collect and evaluate evidence in favor of either settings. This paper fills in this gap and compares two software development companies in a Nord-European country in respect to client participation and its impact on the clients' satisfaction with the project. One of the companies is agile by its design while the other follows a 'traditional' software development approach. Our study suggests that active clients' participation is not an exclusive attribute of agile projects and that it can be successfully integrated (and implemented) in a 'traditional' project as well. Further, the study shows that by involving clients, software companies have the chance to get higher customer satisfaction, regardless whether or not they implement agile software development processes. Although our study is not quantitative in nature, we think that it is indicative about the impact of the factor "client's participation" on the client's satisfaction.
Comparison of P53 protein overexpression with P53 mutation in bladder cancer: clinical and biologic aspects.

BACKGROUND Alterations of the tumor suppressor gene p53 are known to occur in bladder cancer. Although p53 overexpression is associated with mutation of the p53 gene, a substantial discrepancy between molecular genetic alteration in p53 and overexpression of the protein has been found. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Tumor specimens of 39 bladder cancer patients were immunohistochemically analyzed for p53 overexpression, and the results were compared with the presence of a mutation as assessed by single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and direct sequencing. Both clinical and biologic aspects were studied. RESULTS A significant correlation between p53 overexpression and poor survival in the whole group studied was found (p < 0.01). No association between p53 overexpression and decreased survival was found for invasive tumors in contrast with other studies. Differences in treatment of the patients and different Ab and scoring systems used might explain these differences. In our study, the Kaplar-Meier curves showed the same result for p53 overexpression and p53 mutation when the whole group and the invasive tumors were studied. However, in the group of superficial tumors, which was unfortunately too small for statistical analysis, we found p53 overexpression in three tumors, and no p53 mutations were found. A good concordance between p53 mutation and p53 overexpression was found (p < 0.02). However, two out of eight tumors with an SSCP-proven p53 mutation showed no p53 immunoreactivity, probably as a result of loss of the nuclear localization signal. Twenty three percent (7/31) of the tumors showed p53 overexpression without any sign of a mutation. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that, despite good concordance between p53 mutation and p53 overexpression, there is no direct casual relationship between mutation and protein accumulation. Apparently, other events than mutation can trigger p53 stability.
Incorporating Neighbourhood Choice in a Model of Neighbourhood Effects on Income

Studies of neighbourhood effects often attempt to identify causal effects of neighbourhood characteristics on individual outcomes, such as income, education, employment, and health. However, selection looms large in this line of research and it has been repeatedly argued that estimates of neighbourhood effects are biased as people non-randomly select into neighbourhoods based on their preferences, income, and the availability of alternative housing. We propose a two-step framework to help disentangle selection processes in the relationship between neighbourhood deprivation and earnings. We first model neighbourhood selection using a discrete choice framework and derive correction components to adjust parameter estimates in a subsequent neighbourhood effects model for the unequal probability that an individual 'chooses' to live in a particular area. Applying this technique to administrative data from the Netherlands, we find significant interactions between personal and neighbourhood characteristics in the selection model. This confirms individual differences in neighbourhood preferences; individuals non-randomly select into neighbourhoods. The baseline neighbourhood effects model reveals a significant effect of average neighbourhood income on individual income. When we include correction components for the differential sorting of individuals into specific neighbourhoods, the effect of neighbourhood income diminishes, but remains significant. These results suggest that researchers need to be attuned to the role of selection bias when assessing the role of neighbourhood effects on individual outcomes. Perhaps more importantly, the strong, persistent effect of neighbourhood deprivation on subsequent earnings suggests that neighbourhood effects reflect more than the shared characteristics of neighbourhood residents; place of residence partially determines economic well-being.
Light-intensity physical activity is associated with insulin resistance in elderly Japanese women independent of moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activity.

BACKGROUND It is unclear whether light physical activity is beneficially associated with insulin resistance, similar to moderate and/or vigorous physical activity. This cross-sectional study was performed to determine the relationship between the amount of light physical activity, as determined with a triaxial accelerometer, and insulin resistance. METHODS A total of 807 healthy men and women participated in this study. Physical activity was measured using a triaxial accelerometer worn for 28 days and summarized as light intensity (1.1-2.9 METs) or moderate to vigorous intensity (≥ 3.0 METs). Insulin resistance was evaluated by HOMA_R (FPG [mg/dL] × IRI [μU/mL]/405). RESULTS The daily time spent in light physical activity was inversely associated with HOMA_R (r = -0.173, P < 0.05). After adjustment for confounders, the association between light physical activity and HOMA_R remained statistically significant (β = -0.119, P < .05). Light physical activity remained significantly associated with HOMA_R following further adjustment for moderate to vigorous intensity activity (β = -0.125, P < .05). Similar results were observed when light physical activity was modeled as quartiles, especially in elderly women. CONCLUSIONS These cross-sectional data suggest that light-intensity physical activity is beneficially associated with insulin resistance in elderly Japanese women.
Numerical analysis of vacuum arc under nonuniformly distributed axial magnetic fields

A two-dimensional (2-D) magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) model of free expansion interelectrode plasma of vacuum arc is developed. The model is solved by numerical method and an iteration strategy with the position of free boundary (FB) taken into account. Under various radial distributions of axial magnetic field (AMF), uniform AMF, saddle shaped AMF, and bell shaped AMF, we got self-consistent results, by which we have studied the influence of radial AMF distribution on vacuum arc.
Co-morbidities in children presenting with chronic suppurative otitis media--a South African study.

BACKGROUND Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is common among children in southern Africa. Managing associated co-morbidities may result in earlier disease resolution. METHODS Children <13 years of age with otorrhoea lasting >4 weeks were recruited to the study. Each child underwent a full clinical examination, a blood count, an HIV test and CD4 cell count, if found to be infected. RESULTS The study included 86 children, and the median age was 4.6 years. HIV infection was present in 45 of 83 children (54.2%), of which 23 (51.1%) were receiving antiretroviral treatment at the time of presentation. Underweight was present in 22 of 85 (25.9%) children and in 17 of the 45 (37.8%) HIV-infected children. One or more clinical signs (not aural-related) were found in 46 of 86 (53.4%) children. Cholesteatoma was found in 23 of 113 (20.4%) ears, and 9 of 86 (10.5%) children had serious associated aural or intracranial complications. CONCLUSIONS A high percentage of children with CSOM have associated pathology that needs to be diagnosed to optimally manage CSOM.
Regulation of (cid:1) factor competition by the alarmone ppGpp

Many regulons controlled by alternative (cid:1) factors, including (cid:1) S and (cid:1) 32 , are poorly induced in cells lacking the alarmone ppGpp. We show that ppGpp is not absolutely required for the activity of (cid:1) S -dependent promoters because underproduction of (cid:1) 70 , specific mutations in rpoD ( rpoD40 and rpoD35 ), or overproduction of Rsd (anti- (cid:1) 70 ) restored expression from (cid:1) S -dependent promoters in vivo in the absence of ppGpp accumulation. An in vitro transcription/competition assay with reconstituted RNA polymerase showed that addition of ppGpp reduces the ability of wild-type (cid:1) 70 to compete with (cid:1) 32 for core binding and the mutant (cid:1) 70 proteins, encoded by rpoD40 and rpoD35 , compete less efficiently than wild-type (cid:1) 70 . Similarly, an in vivo competition assay showed that the ability of both (cid:1) 32 and (cid:1) S to compete with (cid:1) 70 is diminished in cells lacking ppGpp. Consistently, the fraction of (cid:1) S and (cid:1) 32 bound to core was drastically reduced in ppGpp-deficient cells. Thus, the stringent response encompasses a mechanism that alters the relative competitiveness of (cid:1) factors in accordance with cellular demands during physiological stress. SDS–polyacryl- amide gels. Immunoblotting stan-dard procedures using mouse monoclonal antibodies specific for relevant protein as primary antibody (Neoclone). For detection, ECL-plus using al- phosphatase-conjugated anti-mouse IgG as secondary antibody (Sigma). Blots were then quantified using the FUJI FILM LAS-1000 device and software.
Exacerbation of underlying hypothyroidism caused by proteinuria and induction of urinary thyroxine loss: case report and subsequent investigation.

OBJECTIVE To describe a patient with excess urinary thyroxine (T4) excretion and worsening of preexisting hypothyroidism in the setting of nephrotic syndrome and to determine whether excess urinary T4 excretion is present in other patients with proteinuria. METHODS We present data regarding the patient's initial presentation, diagnostic studies, and course of her illness. We suspected urinary T4 loss to be the cause of her presentation and analyzed her urine sample for total T4. We also analyzed differences in urinary T4 excretion in 22 patients with proteinuria and 16 control patients without proteinuria. Relevant medical literature is reviewed. RESULTS A 44-year-old woman presented with a 3-month history of increasing fluid retention, weight gain, and fatigue. She had long-standing hypothyroidism on a stable levothyroxine dosage, 125 mcg/d. She had gained 27 kg and had developed significant edema. She had a grossly elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone level of 91 mIU/L. Her condition worsened, and a urinary protein measurement was 14.06 g/24 h-diagnostic of nephrotic syndrome. The levothyroxine dosage was increased to 225 mcg/d. Urinary total T4 concentration in a 24-hour sample was 59.0 microg/L (83.1 microg/24 h), indicating that a substantial fraction of her orally ingested T4 was lost in urine. Urinary total T4 excretion was significantly higher in patients with proteinuria (mean +/- standard deviation, 18.0 +/- 18.2 microg/L) vs control patients without proteinuria (mean, 3.8 +/- 1.8 microg/L) (P = .0014). CONCLUSION In the patient described, urinary T4 loss due to proteinuria and nephrotic syndrome resulted in a severe exacerbation of underlying hypothyroidism.
THE GEOGRAPHIC PATTERN OF GENETIC DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN HOST ASSOCIATED POPULATIONS OF RHAGOLETIS POMONELLA (DIPTERA: TEPHRITIDAE) IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES AND CANADA

True fruit flies in the Rhagoletis pomonella sibling species group are at the center of a long‐standing debate concerning modes of speciation. The allopatric separation of populations is widely thought to be a prerequisite for speciation in sexually reproducing animals. However, speciation in the R. pomonella group appears to have occurred sympatrically as a consequence of these flies shifting and adapting to new host plants. The sympatric shift of R. pomonella from its native host hawthorn to introduced domestic apple, which occurred approximately 150 years ago, provides a test of whether host specialization is sufficient to allow populations to differentiate in the absence of geographic barriers to gene flow.
Effect of vermicompost on plant growth and its relationship with soil properties

Vermicomposts are rich in microbial populations and diversity, particularly fungi, bacteria and actinomycetes. The continued use of chemical fertilizers causes health and environmental hazards such as ground and surface water pollution by nitrate leaching. Compost refers to organic constituents, usually wastes, that have been mixed, piled, and moistened and undergo thermophilic decomposition that alters or decomposes the original organic materials. Many studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of vermicompost inproviding protection against various plant diseases.
Cranial ultrasound prediction of disabling and nondisabling cerebral palsy at age two in a low birth weight population.

OBJECTIVE To employ multivariate analytic techniques to assess the association between neonatal cranial ultrasound (US) abnormalities and subsequent cerebral palsy (CP), defined as disabling CP (DCP) or nondisabling CP (NDCP) depending on the level of motor dysfunction. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The Neonatal Brain Hemorrhage Study enrolled a geographically representative sample of 1105 newborns 501 to 2000 g and obtained follow-up data on 777 (86%) of the 901 survivors at age two. One hundred thirteen children (14.6%) had motor findings severe enough to classify them as having CP. The 61 (7.9%) of these children who were disabled by their motor impairment we classified as having DCP. The remaining 52 (6.7%) who had definite neurologic findings (usually mild spastic diplegia) but without evidence of interference with daily living, we classified as having NDCP. RESULTS In a multivariate logistic regression model of perinatal and postnatal variables, the following factors were found to be significant risk factors for DCP: parenchymal echodensities/lucencies or ventricular enlargement (PEL/VE) on cranial US (OR = 15.4; 7.6, 31.1), germinal matrix/intraventricular hemorrhage (GM/IVH) (OR = 3.5; 1.7, 6.9) and mechanical ventilation (OR = 2.9; 1.2, 7.1). Fully 93.4% of infants were correctly classified as to presence or absence of DCP on the basis of this model. Birth weight, gestational age, length of hospital stay, gender, race, plurality, presence of labor and Apgar score were not significant independent predictors of DCP. For NDCP, the only risk factor significant in the multivariate model was PEL/VE (OR = 5.3; 2.2, 12.6). CONCLUSIONS Among perinatal and postnatal factors, cranial US abnormalities are by far the most powerful predictors of disabling CP in low birth weight infants. Although PEL/VE was the strongest predictor, GM/IVH also appeared to independently contribute to the risk of DCP. NDCP in low birth weight infants appears to have a different risk profile than DCP. In particular, it is less closely related to US evidence of perinatal brain injury.
Projection‐reconstruction methods: Fast imaging sequences and data processing

New, rapid two‐ and three‐dimensional imaging sequences based on steady‐state gradient echoes and projection‐reconstruction (PR) techniques are proposed. Quantitative studies show that fast PR sequences and classical, fast gradient‐echo Fourier transform sequences lead to identical contrasts. In order to minimize inhomogeneity effects, a particular focus has been placed on echo‐time reduction. The use of a weighting window permits one to acquire severely truncated echoes; partial k‐space scanning may be considered.
Acquired Immune Responses to Plasmodium falciparum Merozoite Surface Protein-1 in the Human Fetus1

Infants born in areas of stable malaria transmission are relatively protected against severe morbidity and high density Plasmodium falciparum blood-stage infection. This protection may involve prenatal sensitization and immunologic reactivity to malaria surface ligands that participate in invasion of red cells. We examined cord blood T and B cell immunity to P. falciparum merozoite surface protein-1 (MSP-1) in infants born in an area of stable malaria transmission in Kenya. T cell cytokine responses to the C-terminal 19-kDa fragment of MSP-1 (MSP-119) were detected in 24 of 92 (26%) newborns (4–192 IFN-γ and 3–88 IL-4-secreting cells per 106/cord blood lymphocytes). Peptide epitopes in the N-terminal block 3 region of MSP-1 also drove IFN-γ and/or IL-13 production. There was no evidence of prenatal T cell sensitization to liver-stage Ag-1. A total of 5 of 86 (6%) newborns had cord blood anti-MSP-119 IgM Abs, an Ig isotype that does not cross the placenta and is therefore of fetal origin. The frequency of neonatal B cell sensitization was higher than that indicated by serology alone, as 5 of 27 (18%) cord blood samples contained B cells that produced IgG when stimulated with MSP-119 in vitro. Neonatal B cell IgG responses were restricted to the Q-KNG allele of MSP-119, the major variant in this endemic area, whereas T cells responded to all four MSP-119 alleles evaluated. In utero sensitization to MSP-1 correlated with the presence of malaria parasites in cord blood (χ2 = 20, p < 0.0001). These data indicate that prenatal sensitization to blood-stage Ags occurs in infants born in malaria endemic areas.
The Acute Effects of Static Stretching on Speed and Agility Performance Depend on Stretch Duration and Conditioning Level

Abstract Avloniti, A, Chatzinikolaou, A, Fatouros, IG, Avloniti, C, Protopapa, M, Draganidis, D, Stampoulis, T, Leontsini, D, Mavropalias, G, Gounelas, G, and Kambas, A. The acute effects of static stretching on speed and agility performance depend on stretch duration and conditioning level. J Strength Cond Res 30(10): 2767–2773, 2016—Although static stretching (SS) is an integral part of physical preparation before training and competition, its usefulness in regards to power performance improvement has been questioned. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 6 SS durations on speed and agility performance. According to a cross-over design, 34 trained men (age, 20.5 ± 1.4 years; height, 1.81 ± 0.2 m; weight, 77.2 ± 2.6 kg; body fat, 8.2 ± 2.6%) participated in a control session (no stretch) and 6 experimental conditions (10, 15, 20, 30, 40, and 60 seconds) performed in a randomized order. Performance in speed (10 and 20 m) and agility (T-test) was measured after the control and experimental conditions. Static stretching, consisting of stretches for hip extensors, hip adductors, knee extensors, knee flexors, and ankle sole flexors, was performed after light cardiovascular exercise (8 minutes). A 1-way repeated-measures analysis of variance showed that speed was improved only by SS of short duration (15/20 seconds), whereas agility remained unaffected by all SS trials. When participants' speed and agility level was taken into account, it was revealed that only those of moderate performance demonstrated an improved speed (in 15- and 20-second trials) and agility (in 10- and 15-second trials) performance. These results suggest that short-duration SS protocols induce an acute improvement of speed and agility performance, whereas longer-duration SS protocols have neither positive nor negative effect. Furthermore, it seems that individuals of lower speed and agility performance level are more likely to benefit by a short-duration SS protocol.