Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Capital Structure and Corporate Governance Quality: Evidence from the Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS)

Grounded in agency theory, this study explores how capital structure is influenced by aggregate corporate governance quality. We measure governance quality using broad-based comprehensive governance metrics provided by the Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS). The empirical evidence reveals a robust inverse association between leverage and governance quality. Firms with poor governance are significantly more leveraged. It appears that leverage substitutes for corporate governance in alleviating agency conflicts. Further, we utilize empirical methods that control for endogeneity and show that poor governance quality likely brings about, and does not merely reflect, higher leverage. Our results are important as they show that the overall quality of corporate governance has a material impact on critical corporate decisions such as capital structure choices.
Reversible inhibition by retinoids of 3-methylcholanthrene-induced neoplastic transformation in C3H/10T1/2 clone 8 cells.

Abstract Several investigators have recently shown that retinoids inhibit chemically induced carcinomas in vivo and may be important in the prevention of the development of cancer. Studies were initiated using cultured C3H/10T½ clone 8 cells to study the effects of retinoids on 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA)-induced neoplastic transformation. At concentrations that did not affect cell survival (0.005 to 0.5 µg/ml), retinyl acetate was found to inhibit MCA-induced transformation. Complete inhibition of transformation was observed when MCA-treated cells were continuously treated with retinyl acetate (0.1 µg/ml) starting 7 days after MCA exposure (2.5 µg/ml; 24 hr). A brief exposure to retinyl acetate (0.5 µg/ml) on Days 7 to 14 after MCA caused a 70% inhibition in transformation, while delaying treatment with retinyl acetate up to 3 weeks after MCA still decreased transformation by 80%. Nontoxic concentrations of retinol and retinal were found to be approximately equal in potency to retinyl acetate. The inhibition of neoplastic transformation by retinoids was found to be fully reversible on maintaining initiated cultures for 3 to 5 weeks in drug-free medium. Growth of three established transformed C3H/10T½ clone 8 cell lines in the presence of normal cells was not inhibited by 1 µg/ml doses of retinyl acetate or retinol. Thus, in extension of the in vivo studies, we have shown that retinoids inhibit chemically induced neoplastic transformation in cultured mouse fibroblasts and, furthermore, that this inhibition is not related to toxicity. The results of this study indicate that retinoids are acting to delay the progression of preneoplastic cells to fully neoplastic cells.
Uniform Luminescence at Breakdown in 4H-SiC 4°-Off (0001) p–n Diodes Terminated With an Asymmetrically Spaced Floating-Field Ring

Conventional floating-field rings, which are used to reduce the peak electric field at the periphery of power devices, cause nonuniform avalanche multiplication when applied to planar junctions formed on 4H-SiC substrates misoriented from (0001) toward [1120]. Accordingly, a novel asymmetrically spaced floating-field ring (AS-FFR) was applied to 4H-SiC 4°-off (0001) p-n diodes and found to be effective against such nonuniform avalanche multiplication; that is, luminescence at breakdown was nearly uniform when the spacing between the edge of the anode and the inner edge of the AS-FFR was 2.0 μm in the [1̅1̅20] direction and 1.5 μm in the [112̅0] direction. This result should contribute to exploring the possibility of 4H-SiC power devices with higher avalanche ruggedness.
Founder or Joiner ? The Role of Individual , Social , and Opportunity Factors in Shaping Entrepreneurial Interests

Maryann Feldman, April Franco, and Shon Hiatt for their helpful comments and suggestions, as well as seminar participants at Boston University, Copenhagen Business School, Duke University, the DRUID Summer Conference, the Fox-Kauffman Workshop on Empirical Entrepreneurship, the Georgia Tech Roundtable for Engineering Entrepreneurship Research, the IZA Entrepreneurship Workshop, and the Maryland Entrepreneurship Conference. We would also like to thank the Marion Ewing Kauffman Foundation and the Georgia Research Alliance for financial support. All errors are our own. Founder or Joiner? The Role of Individual, Social, and Opportunity Factors in Shaping Entrepreneurial Interests
Effects of Acid on Plant Litter Decomposition in an Arctic Lake

The effects of acid on the microbial decomposition of the dominant aquatic macrophyte (Carex sp.) in Toolik Lake, Alaska were studied in microcosms during the ice-free season of 1980. Toolik Lake is slightly buffered, deep, and very oligotrophic. Microbial activities, as determined by 14C-acetate incorporation into extractable lipids, associated with Carex litter were significantly (P < 0.01) reduced within 2 days at pHs of 3.0 and 4.0, but not 5.0, 5.5, or 6.0, as compared with ambient controls (pH 7.4). ATP levels were significantly reduced at pH 3.0, but not at the other pHs tested. After 18 days, microbial activity significantly correlated with weight loss (P < 0.05), nitrogen content (P < 0.01), and C/N ratios (P < 0.01) of the litter, but did not correlate with ATP levels. Scanning electron microscopy of the litter surface revealed that the fungi present at ambient pH did not become dominant at pHs below 5.5, diatoms were absent below pH 4.0, and bacterial numbers and extracellular slime were greatly reduced at pH 4.0 and below. Mineralization of Carex14C-lignin-labeled or 14C-cellulose-labeled lignocellulose was reduced at pH 2.0, but not at pH 4.0, 5.0, or 6.0, compared with controls (pH 7). We concluded that if the pH of the water from this slightly buffered lake was sufficiently reduced, rates of litter decomposition would be significantly reduced.
Sufficient conditions for Hurwitz and Schur stability of interval matrices

It is shown that the simplified sufficient conditions for the asymptotic Hurwitz stability of interval matrices derived by M. Mansour (1989) can be further simplified by considering the directions of the associated maximizing vectors. The number of extreme matrices to be checked is reduced from 2/sup n(n-1)/2/ to 2/sup n-1/. The same approach can also be used for Schur stability. Then, the number of extreme matrices to be checked is 2/sup 2n-1/. <<ETX>>
Prediction of Outcomes in Mild Cognitive Impairment by Using 18F-FDG-PET: A Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND 18F-FDG-PET is defined as a biomarker of neuronal injury according to the revised National Institute on Aging–Alzheimer’s Association criteria. OBJECTIVE The objective of this multicenter prospective cohort study was to examine the value of 18F-FDG-PET in predicting the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). METHODS In total, 114 patients with MCI at 9 participating institutions underwent clinical and neuropsychological examinations, MRI, and 18F-FDG-PET at baseline. The cases were visually classified into predefined dementia patterns by three experts. Anautomated analysis for 18F-FDG-PET was also performed to calculate the PET score. Subjects were followed periodically for 3 years, and progression to dementia was evaluated. RESULTS In 47% of the patients with MCI, progression of symptoms justified the clinical diagnosis of “probable AD”. The PET visual interpretation predicted conversion to AD during 3-year follow-up with an overall diagnostic accuracy of 68%. Overall diagnostic accuracy of the PET score was better than that of PET visual interpretation at all follow-up intervals, and the optimized PET score threshold revealed the best performance at the 2-year follow-up interval with an overall diagnostic accuracy of 83%,a sensitivity of 70%, and a specificity of 90%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified the PET score as the most significant predictive factor distinguishing AD converters from non-converters. CONCLUSION The PET score is the most statistically significant predictive factor for conversion from MCI to AD, and the diagnostic performance of the PET score is more promising for rapid converters over 2 years.
Computations with oracles that measure vanishing quantities

We consider computation with real numbers that arise through a process of physical measurement. We have developed a theory in which physical experiments that measure quantities can be used as oracles to algorithms and we have begun to classify the computational power of various forms of experiment using non-uniform complexity classes. Earlier, in Beggs et al. (2014 Reviews of Symbolic Logic 7(4) 618–646), we observed that measurement can be viewed as a process of comparing a rational number z – a test quantity – with a real number y – an unknown quantity; each oracle call performs such a comparison. Experiments can then be classified into three categories, that correspond with being able to return test results $$\begin{eqnarray*} z < y\text{ or }z > y\text{ or }\textit{timeout},\\ z < y\text{ or }\textit{timeout},\\ z \neq y\text{ or }\textit{timeout}. \end{eqnarray*} $$ These categories are called two-sided, threshold and vanishing experiments, respectively. The iterative process of comparing generates a real number y. The computational power of two-sided and threshold experiments were analysed in several papers, including Beggs et al. (2008 Proceedings of the Royal Society, Series A (Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences) 464 (2098) 2777–2801), Beggs et al. (2009 Proceedings of the Royal Society, Series A (Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences) 465 (2105) 1453–1465), Beggs et al. (2013a Unconventional Computation and Natural Computation (UCNC 2013), Springer-Verlag 6–18), Beggs et al. (2010b Mathematical Structures in Computer Science 20 (06) 1019–1050) and Beggs et al. (2014 Reviews of Symbolic Logic, 7 (4):618-646). In this paper, we attack the subtle problem of measuring physical quantities that vanish in some experimental conditions (e.g., Brewster's angle in optics). We analyse in detail a simple generic vanishing experiment for measuring mass and develop general techniques based on parallel experiments, statistical analysis and timing notions that enable us to prove lower and upper bounds for its computational power in different variants. We end with a comparison of various results for all three forms of experiments and a suitable postulate for computation involving analogue inputs that breaks the Church–Turing barrier.
Drawing Abilities in Williams Syndrome: A Case Study

Children with Williams syndrome (WS) have been reported to exhibit an unusual cognitive profile characterized by marked preservation of linguistic abilities and poor visuospatial abilities against a backdrop of generalized mental retardation. Much of the data documenting this profile come from studies of older children and adults with WS. Very few studies have reported findings from the preschool and early school-age period. As a result, little is known about the early development of cognitive processes in children with WS. Capirci, Sabbadini, and Volterra (1996) reported data from a longitudinal case study of early language development in a young child with WS. This article presents the longitudinal profile of visuospatial abilities in this same child. Data on copying and free drawing collected over a period extending from late preschool to early school age are reported. It is clear from these data that this child does indeed exhibit deficits in visuospatial abilities. Her performance clearly improved with age, but deficits persist.
Risks for Preeclampsia and Small for Gestational Age: Predictive Values of Placental Growth Factor, Soluble fms-like Tyrosine Kinase-1, and Inhibin A in Singleton and Multiple-Gestation Pregnancies

Abstract Objective To determine the accuracy of placental growth factor (PlGF), soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), and inhibin A in singleton and multiple-gestation pregnancies for predicting preeclampsia (PE) and small for gestational age (SGA). Study Design A prospective cohort nested in a randomized controlled trial of antioxidant supplementation for the prevention of PE. Plasma biomarkers were evaluated at 12 to 18 (visit 1) and 24 to 26 (visit 2) weeks' gestation and expressed as adjusted multiples of the median. Results Multiple-gestation pregnancy (74/772) had a significant impact on all biomarkers' levels. PlGF was the best predictor of PE and SGA. At a 10% false-positive rate, PlGF at visit 1 had 21% sensitivity for predicting PE in singleton versus 60% in multiple-gestation pregnancies. PlGF at visit 1 had a 31% sensitivity in singleton and 27% in multiple-gestation pregnancies for SGA prediction. Conclusion PlGF level was a good predictor of subsequent PE as early as 12 to 18 weeks in multiple-gestation pregnancies but was not clinically useful enough to be used as a single marker.
Preparation of low‐affinity red cells with dimethylsulfoxide‐mediated inositol hexaphosphate incorporation: Hemoglobin and ATP recovery using a continuous‐flow method

Incorporation of IHP into red cells decreases oxygen affinity as a result of the binding of this compound to the 2,3‐DPG site of hemoglobin. This investigation describes a continuous‐flow method which utilizes the osmotic pulse technique to transport IHP into RBC. Using this procedure, it is possible to obtain a significant increase in P50 while maintaining in vitro cellular integrity. For example. IHP incorporation sufficient to cause an increase in the P50 of 20 mm Hg may be achieved with recovery of approximately 75% of the hemoglobin and with maintenance of ATP levels compatible with good viability. The continuous‐flow method allows uniform treatment of large, unit‐size volumes of red cells with a relatively small quantity of reagents. The final cell product is macrocytic/hypochromic with an increased number of stomatocytes.
Variation in the rates of operative delivery in the United States.

OBJECTIVES This study was undertaken to examine the national and regional rates of operative delivery among almost one quarter million births in a single year in the nation's largest healthcare delivery system, using variation as an arbiter of the quality of decision making. STUDY DESIGN We compared the variation in rates of primary cesarean and operative vaginal delivery in facilities of the Hospital Corporation of America during the year 2004. RESULTS In 124 facilities representing almost 220,000 births during a 1-year period, the primary cesarean and operative vaginal delivery rates were 19% +/- 5% (range 9-37) and 7% +/- 4% (range 1-23). Within individual geographic regions, we consistently found variations of 200-300% in rates of primary cesarean delivery and variations approximating an order of magnitude for operative vaginal delivery. CONCLUSION Within broad upper and lower limits, rates of operative delivery in the United States are highly variable and suggest a pattern of almost random decision making. This reflects a lack of sufficient reliable, outcomes-based data to guide clinical decision making.
Comparison of Dipyridamole-Echocardiography with Dipyridamole-Thallium Scintigraphy for the Diagnosis of Myocardial Ischemia

After an intravenous infusion of dipyridamole(0.56 mg/kg), we performed both echocardiography and thallium scintigraphy in 63 patients who were referred for known or suspected coronary artery disease. Of those patients, 25 returned for coronary arteriography within 1 month after the tests, thus forming the study group for this report. Sensitivity for detection of coronary artery disease, when analyzed region-by-region, was 80% for thallium scintigraphy and 57% for echocardiography, whereas specificity was 85% and 98%, respectively. When evaluating individual patients for the presence or absence of ischemia, we found a sensitivity of 95% for scintigraphy and 58% for echocardiography; corresponding specificities were 50% and 100%. By using arteriography as the gold standard for comparison, it appears that thallium scintigraphy has a significantly higher sensitivity but lower specificity for the detection of coronary artery disease than does echocardiography. Echocardiography may, however, be a useful adjunct to thallium scintigraphy in the evaluation of patients with coronary artery disease.
Sensitivity Analysis for Equivalence and Difference in an Observational Study of Neonatal Intensive Care Units

In randomized experiments, it is sometimes important to demonstrate that two treatments do not differ greatly in their effects, or to demonstrate that the treatments have very different effects on one outcome but similar effects on another outcome. These “demonstrations” may take the form of rejecting a null hypothesis of inequivalence in an equivalence test, or rejecting a null hypothesis of equal and inequivalent effects on two outcomes. The procedures often express a complex hypothesis in terms of component hypotheses, and combine the component significance levels to test the complex hypothesis. If used in a randomized trial, randomization provides valid significance levels for each component test, and hence also for the combined procedure. In an observational study—that is, in a study of treatments that were not randomly assigned—there is typically concern that significance levels for testing hypotheses about treatment effects may be distorted by failure to control for some unobserved pretreatment covariate. This concern is raised in the evaluation of virtually all observational studies. The possible impact of such an unobserved covariate is clarified and displayed by a sensitivity analysis that, for various possible magnitudes of potential bias, yields a corresponding interval of possible significance levels. Some observational studies are sensitive to very small unobserved biases, whereas others are insensitive to large biases. Here, existing sensitivity analyses for component hypotheses are used to generate sensitivity analyses for complex hypotheses tested by combining component significance levels. We apply the procedure to our study of the timing of discharges of premature babies from neonatal intensive care units, focusing on the possible impact of delayed discharge on use of unplanned medical care after discharge.
Dehumanizing metaphors in UK immigrant debates in press and online media

Some Internet genres, in particular Weblogs and discussion fora, have a dubious reputation for giving voice to strongly polemical discourses or hate-speech. This paper investigates the use of dehumanizing metaphors, specifically parasite metaphors, in British debates about immigration. It compares the range of metaphors used in Blogs with that used in online fora and in mainstream newspaper coverage and concludes that despite substantial variation, they can be categorised into four main scenarios, of which one includes dehumanizing metaphors such as depictions of immigrants as parasites, leeches, or bloodsuckers. Whilst this kind of stigmatizing imagery occurs across the three different media genres, the samples also show significant quantitative and qualitative differences: dehumanizing metaphors occur most often and their potential for aggressive argumentation and polemics is exploited in more detail in Blogs than in the fora, and least in the mainstream press. It is then asked what cognitive import this differential usage has in view of a) the discourse histories of such metaphors and b) their most likely present-day semantic motivation. The paper concludes that while it is unlikely that present-day users have detailed knowledge of the etymological and conceptual histories of such metaphors, it is also improbable to assume a wholly “unconscious” or “automatic” use or reception in the respective community of practice, and that instead it is more likely that they are used with a high degree of “deliberateness” and a modicum of discourse-historical awareness.
People with dementia in long-term care facilities: an exploratory study of their activities and participation

Abstract Purpose: To describe the activities and participation of people with dementia living in long-term care facilities. Methods: An exploratory descriptive study with 329 people medically diagnosed with dementia was conducted in the central region of Portugal. Socio-demographics were collected with a questionnaire based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health-Checklist. Cognitive impairment was measured with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the activities and participation were described with the World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0). Results: Participants mean age was 83.6 ± 7.1 years old. Most were female (79.6%), widows (60.8%), had 1–4 years of education (51.1%) and were living in a long-term care facility from 2 to 4 years (36.2%). Alzheimer’s disease (41.9%) was the most prevalent type of dementia. According to the MMSE, the cognitive status was low (8.7 ± 7.9) and 61.7% had severe cognitive impairment. The MMSE scores were negatively correlated with the WHODAS 2.0 scores. Mobility was the most affected domain of WHODAS 2.0. The total score showed that 77.8% of the sample was severely limited in activities and restricted in participation. Conclusions: This study shows that people with dementia living in long-term care facilities have severe activities limitation and participation restriction. However, most residents understand what people say, eat by themselves and get along with people who are close to them. This information on disability is crucial to plan health resources and inform rehabilitation programmes tailored to individuals’ functionality. Implications for Rehabilitation People with dementia living in long-term care facilities have severe activities limitation and participation restriction. Rehabilitation through engagement in activities and enhancement of participation seems to be crucial for this population. A multidimensional characterisation of activities and participation is recommended to inform the design and implementation of rehabilitation. Mobility was the most affected domain, highlighting the need for specific rehabilitation, as mobility restrictions are associated with residents’ dependency and caregivers’ burden.
Secular Stagnation? Growth, Asset Returns and Welfare in the Next Decades: First Results

Ongoing demographic change will lead to a relative scarcity of raw labor to the effect that output growth will be decreasing in the next decades, a secular stagnation. As physical capital will be relatively abundant, this decrease of output will be accompanied by reductions of asset returns. We quantify these effects for the US economy by developing an overlapping generations model with risky and risk-free assets. Without adjustments of human capital, risky returns decrease until 2035 by about 0.7 percentage point, and the risk-free rate by about one percentage point, leading to substantial welfare losses for asset rich households. Per capita output is reduced by 6%. Endogenous human capital adjustments strongly mitigate these effects. We conclude that human capital policies will be crucial in the context of labor shortages.