Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
STOCK PRICE PERFORMANCE OF INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERINGS: THE THAI EXPERIENCE

In this paper I investigate the long-run stock returns after initial public offering (IPOs) in Thailand in the post-1997 Asian financial crisis. Based on a sample of 123 IPO firms listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) between 2000 and 2005, I find that the average initial return on the first-trading day is 19.97 percent. Using buy-and-hold abnormal returns, I find that the IPO firms underperform a market index by 38.74 percent in three years. This is substantially large compared with the underperformance of IPOs in the U.S. reported by Ritter (1991) and the underperformance of IPOs in Germany reported by Stehle, Ehrhardt, and Przyborowsky (2000). In addition, there is substantial variation in the long-run underperformance across industries. Using the multiple regression analyses, I find that services firms appear to have the worst long-run performance.
Onset and course of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is clinically heterogeneous. Our purpose was to determine whether initial progression time, clinical features, and distribution of nerve conduction slowing at presentation correlate with clinical course and prognosis. We examined how findings at presentation related to clinical course during an average follow‐up time of 4.0 (range 1.0–9.0) years in 44 patients with CIDP. We calculated terminal latency index (TLI), a measure of differential slowing in distal relative to more proximal nerve segments. Patients with acute or subacute onset (progression over less than 8 weeks) had a higher remission rate (P = 0.012) than patients with chronic onset (progression over more than 8 weeks). Patients with proximal weakness had a higher remission rate than patients with the distal phenotype (P < 0.001). All 5 patients with a relapsing course had subacute onset. They had lower TLIs, suggesting a more distal pattern of demyelination, than patients with a monophasic or chronic course. In conclusion, subacute onset and presence of proximal weakness are good prognostic signs that correlate with a high rate of recovery to normal in CIDP. Distal accentuation of conduction slowing at presentation correlates with subacute onset and a relapsing course. Muscle Nerve, 2005
A FRAMEWORK FOR IMPROVING KNOWLEDGE SHARING IN THE PROVISION OF FLOATING SUPPORT SERVICES IN SHELTERED HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY

The challenges arising from the changing demographic profile and the rapid increase in the older population in the UK promotes the development of a range of models of housing and support that allow elderly individuals to live independently for as long as possible. Over half a million elderly individuals live in rented, sheltered housing in England. Sheltered housing is purpose built accommodation for elderly individuals who want to live independently in an environment that provides support and is secure. It is a common view that knowledge sharing plays an important role in the success of businesses and organisations. This study proposes to identify the critical success factors (CSF) of knowledge sharing that should improve the provision of floating support services (FSS) to the elderly in sheltered housing. Literature demonstrates that the success of knowledge sharing is influenced by factors including trust, management support, communication, team networking, technology, structure and organisational culture. Knowledge sharing covers a wide variety of functionalities and supports different sets of activities within an organisation. Therefore, to achieve the research aim, both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies are used to gather data. Data have been collected through semi-structured interviews with thirty (30) participants and survey questionnaires engaging ninety (99) respondents across six organisations in Greater Manchester. The findings suggest that trust and relationships, team networking, strong leadership support and information technology are the CSFs that can improve knowledge sharing between floating support workers and adult social service workers; and play an important role in the decision to share knowledge. Based on these findings, a framework for improving knowledge sharing in the provision of FSS was developed. The framework will be of benefit to policy makers and regulators such as housing associations and providers of floating support services. The findings from this research contribute valuable new knowledge to both researchers and practitioners in both housing associations and the adult social service sectors by developing a holistic approach and in turn increasing their chances of improving knowledge sharing between teams providing floating support services.
Profile Generation Methods for Reinforcing Robustness of Keystroke Authentication in Free Text Typing

We have investigated several characteristics of the keystroke authentication in Japanese free text typing, and our methods have provided high recognition accuracy for high typing skill users who can type 700 or more letters per 5 minutes. There are, however, some situations decreasing the accuracy such as long period passage after registering each user’s profile documents and existence of lower typing skill users who can type only about 500 - 600 letters per 5 minutes. In this paper, we propose new profile generation methods, profile-updating and profile-combining methods, to reinforce the robustness of keystroke authentication and show the effectiveness of them through three examinations with experimental data.
In Vivo Evidence of the Androgen Receptor in Association With Myometrial Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis

Background: The androgen receptor (AR) plays essential roles in female reproductive physiology. In vitro studies have shown that AR exerts 2 distinct but related functions in myometrial cells. The AR is required for myometrial cell cycling ligand independently, thereby controls myometrial cell proliferation. The AR also exerts antiapoptotic functions through myeloid cell leukemia 1 (MCL1) in both ligand-dependent and ligand-independent manners. However, these AR functions have not yet been confirmed in vivo. This study provides in vivo evidence that AR expression is associated with myometrial cell proliferation and apoptosis. Methods: Myometrial tissue was collected on day 6 of pregnancy from mice bearing an intact AR (AR+/+) or mice with AR heterozygous (AR−/+) or homozygous (AR−/−) functional knockout. Human uterine leiomyoma and paired myometrial tissue biopsies (n = 14 patients) were collected during hysterectomy. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess the protein expression of AR, MCL1, and Ki-67 index, as well as the functional associations of AR with MCL1 and Ki-67 index. Results: In AR−/− mice, MCL1 protein levels were reduced ∼50% in both circular and longitudinal myometrial cells when compared with that in AR+/+ and AR−/+ mice. By contrast, Ki-67 index remained unchanged. The AR protein expression and Ki-67 index in leiomyoma were ∼2- to 3-fold higher than that in normal myometrium. Although MCL1 expression was not coordinately increased in leiomyoma, strong positive correlations between AR and MCL1 expression were observed in leiomyoma but not in normal myometrium tissue. Conclusion: These results suggest that AR is an important regulator of myometrial growth in vivo during pregnancy and in leiomyoma.
Implementation of EU legislation on rail liberalisation in Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands. NBB Working Paper No. 221, March 2012

This study provides a detailed and easy-to read overview of the railway liberalisation in Belgium and the three neighbouring countries. The European Union's liberalisation Directives are often complex and are implemented in very specific ways in the different Member States. The analysis goes into some detail about the Commission's underlying motives and economic theories for letting network industries, which had previously been regarded as natural monopolies, convert into competitive enterprises with the separation of infrastructure from operations. The study takes a look at the impact of the European rail liberalisation Directives in Belgium and its neighbouring countries - France, Germany and the Netherlands. There are considerable variations in the way in which the Directives are applied. It is reflected in the way in which the separation of the infrastructure and the transport services within the railway companies was carried out, and in the degree of opening of the market in freight and passenger transport. The analysis shows that the dominance of the former monopolists in the different Member States means that private rail operators face major obstacles. The financial analysis of the railway companies reveals wide variations in economic performance. The combination of better balance sheet figures and a bigger domestic market means that some major players in Europe are financially better off, giving them superiority over the smaller railway companies. This raises the question whether these circumstances will ultimately lead to distortion of competition.
Competition, Strategy and Management in China

Introduction PART ONE: CONTEXT Business Environment in China Competition Pressure and Strategy of Chinese firms PART TWO: CASE STUDIES Automobile and Pharmaceutical Industry Electronic and Information Technology Industry Retail and Exhibition Industry PART THREE: HRM AND TRANS-NATIONAL FIRMS International M&A in China: driving forces, barriers and implications for HRM Chinese Outward FDI: driving forces, strategies, and implications for HRM Conclusions
Ownership Structure and Bank Performance in China: Does Ownership Concentration Matter?

This research investigates the relation between ownership structure and bank performance. We choose a sample of 49 large Chinese banks of different types over the 2003-2008 periods and evaluate the impact of the largest shareholder. Using ROA (Return on Assets) and ROE (Return on Equity) as profitability measures, the results show that there is no obvious correlation between ownership structure and bank performance in general, although state-owned commercial banks (SOCBs) might present a quadratic relationship with ROE. However, for joint-stock commercial banks (JSCBs) and city commercial banks (CCBs), we did not find such relationship.
The Impact of Brand Awareness on Consumer Purchase Intention: The Mediating Effect of Perceived Quality and Brand Loyalty

The purposes of the study are to explore the effects among brand awareness, perceived quality, brand loyalty and customer purchase intention and mediating effects of perceived quality and brand loyalty on brand awareness and purchase intention. The samples are collected from cellular phone users living in Chiyi, and the research adopts regression analysis and mediating test to examine the hypotheses. The results are: (a) the relations among the brand awareness, perceived quality and brand loyalty for purchase intention are significant and positive effect, (b) perceived quality has a positive effect on brand loyalty, (c) perceived quality will meditate the effects between brand awareness and purchase intention, and (d) brand loyalty will mediate the effects between brand awareness and purchase intention. The study suggests that cellular phone manufacturers ought to build a brand and promote its brand awareness through sales promotion, advertising, and other marketing activities. When brand awareness is high, its brand loyalty will also increase. Consumers will evaluate perceived quality of a product from their purchase experience. As a result, brand loyalty and brand preference will increase and also purchase intention.
[Antibiotic use in necrotizing pancreatitis. Results of a controlled study].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The clinical course and death rate in acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) are largely determined by septic complications as part of bacterial invasion of the necrotic tissues. It remains unclear whether antibiotic prophylaxis reduces bacterial invasion of the necroses or septic complications. It was, therefore, the aim of this study to evaluate the effect of prophylactic administration of antibiotics to patients with ANP. PATIENTS AND METHODS In a prospective randomized study 13 patients with ANP and sterile necroses (quantified by contrast-enhanced computed tomography) were given twice daily 200 mg ofloxacin and twice daily 500 mg metronidazole intravenously. The results were compared to those in a control group of patients with ANP (n = 13) who had not initially received antibiotics. In both patient groups fine-needle biopsies of the necrotic areas were performed on days 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10. If there was evidence of infection, antibiotics were then also given to patients of the control group. RESULTS The extent of the necroses was the same, 40%, in both groups. These necroses became infected in a median of 9.5 (treated group) and 10 days (untreated group). The clinical course, documented by the APACHE II score, showed significant improvement under antibiotic treatment (days 1-5-10: scores 15-13.0-9.5). In the (initially untreated) control group the clinical condition deteriorated significantly (days 1-5-10: score 11.5-15.0-16.0). The changes from days 1 to 5, 5 to 10 and 1 to 10 were highly significant (Wilcoxon test, P < 0.01). None of the patients in the antibiotic group died within the first 3 weeks, but 2 of the 13 in the control group died. CONCLUSION Antibiotic prophylaxis neither prevented nor delayed bacterial infection of the necrotic pancreas. But it significantly improved the clinical course if started before the onset of infection of the pancreatic necroses.
Securities Class Actions, Corporate Governance and Managerial Agency Problems

This paper provides support for the proposition that securities class actions help solve agency problems. Two key findings support this conclusion. First, firms that are more likely to suffer from agency problems are more likely to face class actions. Risky firms, large firms, young firms, low market-to-book firms and non-dividend paying firms as of the end of 1990 were more likely to face a class action filing during the January 1991 to March 1998 period. Second, the probability of CEO turnover increases dramatically after class action filings. The increase can not be explained by omitted firm-specific characteristics, financial distress, or the possibility that CEO turnover increases the likelihood that a lawyer will file a class action.
A method for quantifying intervertebral disc signal intensity on T2-weighted imaging

Background Quantification of intervertebral disc degeneration based on intensity of the nucleus pulposus in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) often uses the mean intensity of the region of interest (ROI) within the nucleus pulposus. However, the location and size of ROI have varied in different reports, and none of the reported methods can be considered fully objective. Purpose To develop a more objective method of establishing ROIs for quantitative evaluation of signal intensity in the nucleus pulposus using T2-weighted MRI. Material and Methods A 1.5-T scanner was used to obtain T2-weighted mid-sagittal images. A total of 288 intervertebral discs from 48 patients (25 men, 23 women) were analyzed. Mean age was 47.4 years (range, 17-69 years). All discs were classified into five grades according to Pfirrmann et al. Discs in grades I and II were defined as bright discs, and discs in grades IV and V were defined as dark discs. Eight candidate methods of ROI determination were devised. The method offering the highest degree of discrimination between bright and dark discs was investigated among these eight methods. Results The method with the greatest degree of discrimination was as follows. The quadrangle formed by anterior and posterior edges of the upper and lower end plates in contact with the intervertebral disc to be measured was defined as the intervertebral area. A shape similar to the intervertebral area but with one-quarter the area was drawn. The geometrical center of the shape was matched to the center of intensity, and this shape was then used as the ROI. Satisfactory validity and reproducibility were obtained using this method. Conclusion The present method offers adequate discrimination and could be useful for longitudinal tracking of intervertebral disc degeneration with sufficient reproducibility.
INTRAVITREAL RANIBIZUMAB, INTRAVITREAL RANIBIZUMAB WITH PDT, AND INTRAVITREAL TRIAMCINOLONE WITH PDT FOR THE TREATMENT OF RETINAL ANGIOMATOUS PROLIFERATION: A Prospective Study

Purpose: To compare 1) intravitreal ranibizumab, 2) intravitreal ranibizumab plus photodynamic therapy (PDT), and 3) intravitreal triamcinolone plus PDT in retinal angiomatous proliferation. Methods: In this prospective study, 37 eyes of 37 patients with retinal angiomatous proliferation were randomly assigned in 1 of the 3 groups. The patients in Group 1 (n = 13) received 3 monthly injections of 0.5 mg of ranibizumab. The patients in Group 2 (n = 13) received one session of PDT and 3 monthly intravitreal injections of 0.5 mg ranibizumab and the patients in Group 3 (n = 11) received one session of PDT and 1 injection of 4 mg triamcinolone. Retreatment, with the same therapeutic scheme in each group, was considered in case of persistence or recurrence of subretinal fluid or intraretinal fluid. Results: All the patients completed at least 6 months of follow-up. A total of 61.53% patients in Group 1, 76.92% in Group 2, and all in Group 3 had the same or better visual acuity at the end of the follow-up (P = 0.0232). The mean central retinal thickness reduction in Group 1 was 32.23 &mgr;m (P = 0.548), in Group 2 20.31 &mgr;m (P = 0.042), and in Group 3 73.92 &mgr;m (P < 0.0001). Also, the patients in Group 3 received on average the lowest number of injections (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: All groups resulted in stabilization of the disease, while a significant trend towards better visual acuity and anatomic restoration of the affected area was observed in the intravitreal triamcinolone & PDT group.
Evaluating the Effects of Road Hump on Traffic Volume and Noise Level at Taman Keramat Residential Area, Kuala Lumpur

This paper investigates the effects of road hump on traffic volume and noise level in a residential area in Kuala Lumpur. Field surveys were administered to measure data on traffic volume and noise level at three selected roads at Taman Keramat residential area in Kuala Lumpur. Measurement on noise levels such as LAeg, LAFmax, and LAFmin, and traffic volume were undertaken for about 12 hours. The findings show that the highest traffic volume (563 vehicles per hour) and the highest noise level (75dB(A)) was measured at Road 1. The correlation analysis indicates a similar pattern in the relationship between traffic volume and noise level especially at Road 2 and Road 3. Finally, this paper concludes in drawing attention to conduct further studies on the effects of road humps in other residential areas in Kuala Lumpur to implement measures for a pleasant, harmonious and safe living environment for the community.
The Impact of Management Communications on Insurance Company Share Repurchases

The announcement of a share repurchase provides a firm’s management with the opportunity to communicate with existing and potential shareholders. Our results indicate that voluntary information disclosed by management in an insurance company’s repurchase announcement concerning the future prospects of the firm has little marginal impact on the market’s reaction to the repurchase announcement. The one exception is management statements indicating that the repurchase of common shares represents a good investment for the firm. In contrast, our results indicate that information disclosed by management about the details of the repurchase program does have a marginal impact on the market’s reaction to the repurchase announcement. For example, if the firm’s management mentions the method of repurchase there is an increase in the market’s reaction to the announcement, regardless of the method. In addition, the usage of a tender offer to repurchase stock has a large statistically significant positive effect on the market’s reaction to the announcement of a repurchase. Variables that control for the size of the repurchasing firm, the relative size of the repurchase, and repurchases that are part of an ongoing multi-year repurchase program also have more impact on the market’s reaction than most management statements concerning the future prospects of the firm. The implication for insurance company managers is that the market appears to assign value (abnormal returns) to the common stock repurchase announcement and the information about the terms of the deal, but the market does not appear to perceive management’s statements about the condition of the firm as containing any additional information.
Exchange Rate Stabilization in Developed and Underdeveloped Capital Markets

The target zone model by Krugman (1991) assumes that foreign exchange intervention targets exchange rate levels. We argue that the fit of this model depends on the stage of development of capital markets. Foreign exchange intervention of countries with highly developed capital markets is in line with Krugman’s (1991) model as the exchange rate level is targeted (mostly to sustain the competitiveness of exports) and the volatility of day-to-day exchange rate changes are left to market forces. In contrast, countries with underdeveloped capital markets control both volatility of day-to-day exchange rate changes as well as long-term fluctuations of the exchange rate levels to sustain the competitiveness of exports as well as to reduce the risk for short-term and long-term payment flows. Estimations of foreign exchange intervention reaction functions for Japan and Croatia trace the asymmetric pattern of foreign exchange intervention in countries with developed and underdeveloped capital markets. JEL Classification: F31