Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the Long-Run Performance of IPOs 1

We propose that the long-run performance of IPOs is a function of pre-IPO factors, including managerial decisions and the firm’s performance prior to going public. We relate long-run performance to a much richer set of explanatory factors than in the previous literature. Using a number of variables, we provide empirical evidence in support of this proposition. The manner in which a company is run before it is listed on the stock exchange gives a strong signal of how its shares will perform in its first few years of coming to the market. Using a UK data set, we find that the percentage of equity issued and the degree of multinational ity are key predictors of IPO performance.
The influence of hyperthermia on intracranial pressure, cerebral oximetry and cerebral metabolism in traumatic brain injury

Abstract Background: Hyperthermia is a common secondary insult in traumatic brain injury (TBI). The aim was to evaluate the relationship between hyperthermia and intracranial pressure (ICP), and if intracranial compliance and cerebral blood flow (CBF) pressure autoregulation affected that relationship. The relationships between hyperthermia and cerebral oximetry (BtipO2) and cerebral metabolism were also studied. Methods: A computerized multimodality monitoring system was used for data collection at the neurointensive care unit. Demographic and monitoring data (temperature, ICP, blood pressure, microdialysis, BtipO2) were analyzed from 87 consecutive TBI patients. ICP amplitude was used as measure of compliance, and CBF pressure autoregulation status was calculated using collected blood pressure and ICP values. Mixed models and comparison between groups were used. Results: The influence of hyperthermia on intracranial dynamics (ICP, brain energy metabolism, and BtipO2) was small, but individual differences were seen. Linear mixed models showed that hyperthermia raises ICP slightly more when temperature increases in the groups with low compliance and impaired CBF pressure autoregulation. There was also a tendency (not statistically significant) for increased BtipO2, and for increased pyruvate and lactate, with higher temperature, while the lactate/pyruvate ratio and glucose were stable. Conclusions: The major finding was that the effects of hyperthermia on intracranial dynamics (ICP, brain energy metabolism, and BtipO2) were not extensive in general, but there were exceptional cases. Hyperthermia treatment has many side effects, so it is desirable to identify cases in which hyperthermia is dangerous. Information from multimodality monitoring may be used to guide treatment in individual patients.
TT virus and hepatitis G virus infections in Korean blood donors and patients with chronic liver disease.

AIM To determine the prevalences of TTV and HGV infections among blood donors and patients with chronic liver disease in Korea, to investigate the association of TTV and HGV infections with blood transfusion, and to assess the correlation between TTV and HGV viremia and hepatic damage. METHODS A total of 391 serum samples were examined in this study. Samples were obtained from healthy blood donors (n=110), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive donors (n=112), anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV)-positive donors (n=69), patients with type B chronic liver disease (n=81), and patients with type C chronic liver disease (n=19). TTV DNA was detected using the hemi-nested PCR. HGV RNA was tested using RT-PCR. A history of blood transfusion and serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were also determined. RESULTS TTV DNA was detected in 8.2 % of healthy blood donors, 16.1 % of HBsAg-positive donors, 20.3 % of anti-HCV-positive donors, 21.0 % of patients with type B chronic liver disease, and 21.1 % of patients with type C chronic liver disease. HGV RNA was detected in 1.8 % of healthy blood donors, 1.8 % of HBsAg-positive donors, 17.4 % of anti-HCV-positive donors, 13.6 % of patients with type B chronic liver disease, and 10.5 % of patients with type C chronic liver disease. The prevalence of TTV and HGV infections in HBV- or HCV-positive donors and patients was significantly higher than in healthy blood donors (P<0.05), except for the detection rate of HGV in HBsAg-positive donors which was the same as for healthy donors. There was a history of transfusion in 66.7 % of TTV DNA-positive patients and 76.9 % of HGV RNA-positive patients (P<0.05). No significant increase in serum ALT and AST was detected in the TTV- or HGV-positive donors and patients. CONCLUSION TTV and HGV infections are more frequently found in donors and patients infected with HBV or HCV than in healthy blood donors. However, there is no significant association between TTV or HGV infections and liver injury.
Impact of E-Commerce on Organization Performance: Evidence from Banking Sector of Pakistan

In the recent years, E-banking is one of the most important revolutions in the banking sector of Pakistan. This study measures the impact of e commerce (B2B, B2C, C2C) on organization performance (Business operation, Job performance, Customer satisfaction). The sample of this research is collected from the banking sector of Pakistan from the period of 6 to 8 months by using 50 samples filling online from the period 2012 to 2013. Results show that there is positive relationship between e-commerce and organization performance and by implementing e commerce; organizations improve its performance in terms of business operations, job performance and customer satisfaction. Major research has been withdrawn from MBA thesis subject Impact of foreign banks on domestic banks businesses.
Guidelines for Clotting Studies in Cancer Patients

Abnormalities of the so called "routine" blood coagulation tests have been described in up to 90% of cancer patients. The most common abnormalities described are: elevation of clotting factor levels (i.e. fibrinogen, factors V, VIII, IX and XI), elevated fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products (FDP), and thrombocytosis (1-3). Many of the earlier reports however were small retrospective descriptive studies, which often failed to distinguish the possible effect of chemotherapy on clotting changes. A prospective analysis of routine clotting tests in cancer patients enrolled in two large clinical trials (4,5), the VA CSP #75 (431patients) and the VA CSP #188 (7L9 patients), demonstrated that at diagnosis, before treatment, only 8% of patients had elevated levels of FDP and 14% had abnormal prothrombin times (PT). As in earlier studies the most frequent abnormalities were: L. elevated fibrinogen levels (48%), and 2. thrombocytosis (36%). Although these same parameters (measured at monthly intervals after starting treatment) increased as the disease progressed, the mean values one month prior to death were not statistically different than the mean values at the time of entry onto the study (3, 6). The results obtained from these two large prospective randomized studies suggest that there is a low grade clotting activation in the majority of cases. However overt disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) or symptomatic thromboembolic episodes were not reported in these patients.
Characterization of Nucleoprotein Extracted from Human Influenza A Virus Cultured in Two Different Cell Lines

Background and Aims: Influenza virus nucleoprotein (NP) has the capacity to be used as subunit vaccine, but little is known about the impact of different cultures on its structure. In the present study we aimed to evaluate and compare the Isoelectric focusing (IEF) property of extracted viral nucleoproteins derived from Madin Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell line and embryonated chicken eggs (ECE). Materials and Methods: Influenza virus strain A/NewCaledonia/20/99/H1N1 was propagated and grown in allantoic sac of 10-11 day-old embryonated chicken eggs, and mammalian cell culture (MDCK) in parallel. Ribonucleoprotein extraction was conducted from two separate cultures and evaluated using isoelectric focusing gel strips. Results: The results showed higher isoelectric pH in extracted nucleoproteins from MDCK as compared to embryonated chicken eggs. Conclusion: It is possible that some amino acids have been replaced. Suggesting that the changing net charge of protein may be affect the conserved regions of the protein. Therefore, this could impact the new generation of vaccines construction based on conserved proteins.
Importing, Productivity and SMEs: Firm-Level Evidence from the Netherlands

Constructing a comprehensive data set covering Dutch firms over the years 2002-2008 I am the first to investigate the relationship between trade status, firm size and firm-level productivity in the Netherlands, thereby focusing particularly on small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The empirical evidence can be summarized in four stylized facts. The productivity ranking by trade status of Dutch manufacturing firms in increasing order of productivity is: non-traders, importers, exporters and two-way traders. Firm size and being controlled by a company located abroad are positively associated with firm-level productivity. The results point in the direction of self-selection of more productive manufacturing firms into importing, particularly for firms that did not trade altogether prior to the import start and for build-up periods of two and three years towards the import start. I do not find evidence that firms become more productive after an import start because of learning effects. I find considerable heterogeneity in the productivity premia of trade along the firm size distribution. The results suggest that exporting is more complex than sourcing inputs internationally for small firms relative to larger firms.
Different Measures of Asbestos Exposure in Estimating Risk of Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma Among Construction Workers

To analyze occupation, expert-evaluated cumulative exposure, and radiographic abnormalities as indicators of asbestos-related cancer risk we followed 16,696 male construction workers for cancer in 1990–2000. We calculated standardized incidence ratios (SIR) in comparison to the Finnish population and relative risks (RR) in a multivariate analysis in comparison to the internal low-exposure category of each indicator. Overall, the risk was increased for mesothelioma (SIR 2.0, 95% CI = 1.0–3.3), but not for lung cancer (SIR 1.1, 95% CI = 0.9–1.2). Radiographic lung fibrosis indicated a 2-fold and a high value of the exposure index a 3-fold RR of lung cancer, while there was no risk among those with pleural plaques. The risk of lung cancer was the highest in insulators (RR 3.7, 95% CI = 1.4–9.9). Occupation, expert-evaluated cumulative exposure, and lung fibrosis are useful indicators of lung cancer risk among construction workers
A Qualitative Study of Organizational Trust: Leaders’ Perceptions in Organizations in Poland and Russia

Based on the assumption that trust is important to organizations across countries and cultures, this study examined what organizational leaders, in two postcommunist countries, think about organizational trust. The researchers conducted nine personal interviews with leaders in organizations in Warsaw, Poland, and St. Petersburg and Moscow, Russia. Using an organizational trust model the researchers had developed earlier to guide the qualitative interviews, constructivist grounded theory was utilized to analyze the results. Leaders in both countries provided descriptions of trust and distrust in their organizations. They emphasized the importance of relationships to trust-building and the impact of culture, history, and change on trust in their organizations.
Securitization, Competition and Monitoring.

We analyze the impact of loan securitization on competition in the loan market. Using a dynamic loan market competition model where borrowers face both exogenous and endogenous costs to switch between banks, we uncover a competition softening effect of securitization that allows banks to extract rents in the primary loan market. By reducing monitoring incentives, securitization mitigates winner’s curse effects in future stages of competition thereby decreasing ex ante competition for initial market share. Due to this competition softening effect, securitization can adversely affect loan market efficiency while leading to higher equilibrium profits for banks. This effect is driven by primary loan market competition, not by the exploitation of informational asymmetries in the secondary market for loans. We also argue that banks can use securitization as a strategic response to an increase in competition, as a tool to signal a reduction in monitoring intensity for the sole purpose of softening ex ante competition. Our result suggests that securitization reforms focusing exclusively on informational asymmetries in markets for securitized products may overlook competitive conditions in the primary market.
Association between key management personnel remuneration and the performance of Authorized Deposit-Taking Institutions in Australia

The study investigates the association between each component of key management personnel remuneration (short-term and long-term remuneration) and total remuneration, and the performance of Authorized Deposit-taking Institutions (ADIs) in Australia. Data were collected from 91ADIs regulated by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority. The study provides evidence that total key management personnel remuneration, short-term key management personnel remuneration and long-term key management personnel remuneration are significantly associated with the performance of ADIs, while the pay-performance association is weaker for long-term remuneration as compared to total remuneration and short-term remuneration. In addition, size of the board, existence of remuneration board committee and composition of remuneration board committee is significantly associated and composition of the board is partially associated with the performance of ADIs in Australia. The findings of the study also suggest that the pay-performance association is more sensitive for short-term remuneration as compared to long-term remuneration, indicating that although long-term remuneration is widely used by ADIs, short-term remuneration is an important part of key management personnel remuneration.
The influence of cigarette smoking on lung function in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

The purpose of this investigation was to quantify the effect of cigarette smoking on standard measures of lung function in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Our study population consisted of 73 patients in whom IPF had been clinically diagnosed; in 67% the diagnosis was confirmed by open lung biopsy. The average age was 63 yr; 62% were men, and 70% were either former or current cigarette smokers. Current cigarette smokers were found to have a greater percent predicted residual volume. Interestingly, in a univariate analysis, pack-years of cigarette smoking was found to be directly associated with increased measures of lung volumes (TLC, FRC, and RV) and diminished gas exchange (DLCO). Linear multivariate regression models demonstrated that current cigarette smokers have greater measures of RV and FRC and that increasing pack-years of cigarette smoking is associated with diminished gas exchange. Importantly, the FEV/FVC ratio was not significantly related to either smoking status or pack-years of cigarette smoking. Results from our study indicated that among patients with IPF, current cigarette smokers will tend to trap air (higher RV and FRC), and that cigarette smoking appears to adversely alter gas exchange. Moreover, IPF appears to reduce the likelihood of developing physiologic correlates of airflow obstruction among cigarette smokers. However, this does not imply that IPF prevents the development of cigarette-induced lung disease. In fact, the association between cigarette smoking and both increased lung volumes and diminished gas exchange suggests the presence of both emphysema and interstitial fibrosis. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Acoustic coupling during incomplete glottal closure and its effect on the inverse filtering of oral airflow

Inverse filtering of oral airflow using closed-phase linear prediction is expected to preserve the effects of source-filter interactions in the glottal airflow pulse. Under incomplete glottal closure, the glottal airflow estimation is more challenging due to a lowered glottal impedance, increased subglottal coupling, and violated all-pole assumption. To account for these effects, a model-based inverse filtering scheme allowing for coupling between glottis and upper and lower airways was developed. Acoustic transmission in the tracts used a frequency-domain transmission line. A linearized, time-varying expression was used for the glottal impedance, along with a dipole representation. Synthetic vowels sounds and actual recordings were used to evaluate the proposed scheme. Subject-specific model parameters were obtained from simultaneous aerodynamic, acoustic, and high-speed videoendoscopic recordings of normal subjects uttering vowels with various degrees of glottal closure. Results illustrated that, even under incomplete glottal closure, the airflow entering the vocal tract preserved source-filter interactions and was comparable to that obtained using closed-phase linear prediction. The scheme also yielded an uncoupled glottal airflow that exhibited a clear pulse de-skewing, making it proportional to the glottal area. Cases with larger glottal gaps exhibited lower mean impedances and less pulse skewing, with airflow estimates proportional to the transglottal pressure drop.
Does Spending Time in the Minors Pay Off

This paper compares the performance of firms that first go public on the Toronto Venture Stock Exchange (TSX-V) and then graduate to the senior Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), to the performance of VC-backed firms that directly have an IPO on the TSX. Controlling for potential selection biases stemming from the original selection of listing on the TSX-V rather than receiving a private VC injection, as well as from the subsequent selection of listing on the TSX, we find TSX-V graduations on average outperform VC-backed IPOs by 28.2 percentage points in the three years following the TSX listing. Overall, our results indicate that the TSX-V is an effective “incubator” market for developing firms, and thus provide important policy and regulatory insights.
What Initiatives Are British Food Retailers Taking to Improve Children’s Health and Nutrition?

ABSTRACT Along with food manufacturers, retailers contribute directly to the national diet. While efforts to reformulate private-label products have been assessed, little research considers other voluntary initiatives to impact public health. We explore efforts targeting children’s health and nutrition. Making use of the corporate social responsibility reports of the seven leading retailers from 2006 to 2011, we examine the types of actions, by which retail chains and when. Before 2008, most retailers reported on initiatives promoting children’s nutrition education and physical activity in schools. Since 2009, references to such programs have decreased, with a shift toward child wellness. We find that retailers differ in approaches and commitment. Those with larger market shares mention initiatives more frequently. Most activities are related to nutrition education, developing cooking skills, and promotion of physical activity and not product reformulation. Our research suggests these efforts are not coordinated, might be misplaced, and do not persist over time.
Supply Chain Contagion

Drawing on research from the interfirm relationship, marketing channels, operations management, and network theory literature and on the basis of qualitative depth interviews, the authors identify a new phenomenon they call “supply chain contagion. ” Supply chain contagion is the propagation of interfirm behaviors from one dyadic relationship to an adjacent dyadic relationship within the supply chain. Contagion can occur inadvertently and with or without the knowledge of the affected parties. Using institutional theory, the authors develop a conceptual model that predicts the conditions under which contagion is likely to occur. Although contagion may take the form of any number of interfirm behaviors, operationally, the authors focus on whether the downstream influence strategies that manufacturers use with their dealers are imitated by these same dealers with end customers. They conduct conclusive research using a sample of 151 vertically linked manufacturer–dealer–customer supply chain triads and explain a large variance (R2 = .30) in the use of downstream influence strategies in terms of supply chain contagion. Given extensive prior empirical support for alternative antecedents to influence strategy usage, the explanatory power of supply chain contagion is impressive and suggests that how intermediaries treat end customers is explained, to a large degree, as the intermediaries simply imitating how their suppliers treated them. In addition to the identification of a new theoretical concept, the study provides empirical support for the effects of both macro- and microinstitutional factors on interfirm behavior. Specific factors that are positively related to the level of manifest contagion are environmental uncertainty and the perceived similarity and frequency of contact between boundary personnel; dependence asymmetry has a negative effect on manifest contagion. Managers and boundary-spanning personnel who are aware of supply chain contagion effects should be better able to influence strategically the behavior of channel partners and may be better inoculated against their own unintended imitation of other organizations within their supply chain.
Deleterious effects of cypermethrin on rat liver and kidney: Protective role of sesame oil

The involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been implicated in the toxicity of various pesticides. Our study was designed to investigate the induction of oxidative stress by cypermethrin; a Type II pyrethroid in rat liver and kidney. In addition, the protective role of sesame oil against the toxicity of cypermethrin was investigated. Animals were divided into four equal groups; the first group used as control while groups 2, 3 and 4 were treated with sesame oil (5 mL/kg b.w), cypermethrin (12 mg/kg b.w) and the combination of both sesame oil (5 mL/kg b.w) plus cypermethrin (12 mg/kg b.w), respectively. Rats were daily administered with their respective doses for 30 days by gavage. Repeated oral administration of cypermethrin was found to reduce the level of glutathione (GSH) and the activities of the antioxidant enzymes. While, the level of TBARS was elevated indicating the presence of oxidative stress. The activities of LDH, AST and ALT were decreased in the liver extract while increased in the plasma of the cypermethrin-treated group. Also, the levels of urea and creatinine were significantly increased after treatment with cypermethrin. Liver and kidney injury was confirmed by the histological changes. In conclusion, the administration of sesame oil provided significant protection against cypermethrin-induced oxidative stress, biochemical changes, histopathological damage and genomic DNA fragmentation.