Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Firm linkages, innovation and the evolution of urban systems

Because a city cannot be conceived of as an isolated system but is always part of a system of cities (Berry, 1964), interaction between cities is an essential component of the dynamics of urban systems. Each town or city is a persistent and relatively autonomous entity whose evolution is influenced or limited by the towns and cities in the same interaction networks (Pred, 1977). It has been demonstrated that competition between towns and cities for resources and growth is the main driving force in the dynamics of systems of cities, which also explains the pervasiveness of their structure (Pumain, 2000). Most systems of cities link neighbouring towns and cities located on the same regional or national territory. But cities also have relationships with more distant competitors, especially in specialised networks, which is more and more the case in the current context of an increasingly global economy. Therefore, the hierarchical organisation of cities in systems of cities is no longer inclusive (if it ever was), since the multiple links connecting towns and cities can go anywhere. However, many of the relationships between urban actors are recurrent or use the same communication channels. Recurrent interaction patterns shape the structure of urban systems. This structure is universally characterised by strong hierarchical differentiation (Pumain, 2005). Several orders of magnitude separate the importance of towns and cities, in terms of population, gross product or influence. This importance can be defined by the relative position of a given city in interaction networks (centrality, betweenness), as well as by the urban attributes representing the cumulative effects of that position over time. Interaction flows in turn reflect (or are induced by) this structure of the urban system, since they are generated by the attributes of one city rather than another’s.
Does Market Liquidity Matter for Firm Value? Evidence from Real Estate Investment Trusts

This study investigates how market liquidity can improve firm value of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). Using a sample of REITs in US from 1992 to 2008, we find that market illiquidity, measured by Amihud illiquidity, effective spread, quoted spread and percentage of zero volume days, has a significant and negative impact on future firm performance (Tobin's Q and ROA). The impact of market illiquidity on firm value is more economically significant for Cyclical REITs, and for REITs with higher idiosyncratic risk, with no analyst coverage, and with no hedge fund equity ownership. These findings suggest that market liquidity can increase firm value by stimulating informed trading and mitigating information asymmetry. Moreover, the impact of market illiquidity on firm value is more significant for Diversified REITs than other REITs, suggesting that the monitoring effect of market liquidity is more important for REITs with moral hazard problems. Further, market liquidity improves the efficiency of managerial incentive contracts by enhancing CEO's Pay-for-Performance-Sensitivity. Lastly, market illiquidity has a time-varying impact on firm value, with a larger impact during the subprime and financial crises.
The Colors of Investors' Money: Which Firms Attract Institutional Investors From Around the World? ∗

We study institutional investors’ stock holdings around the world using a comprehensive data set from 27 countries. Three groups of institutions based on their geographic origin (U.S., non-U.S. foreign, and domestic managers) have equal importance in the shareholder base of non-U.S. corporations. Thus, we offer a global (non-U.S. centric) view on what firm- and country-level characteristics attract investment by institutional investors. We find that all institutions reveal a strong preference for large and liquid stocks with good governance practices. There is, however, a substantial diversity between domestic and foreign institutions with respect to other firm characteristics. Foreign investors overweight stocks that are cross-listed in the U.S., members of the MSCI indexes, and globally visible through high foreign sales or analyst coverage. Domestic institutions, in contrast, seem to underweight these same stocks. The crosslisting effect is not concentrated in the holdings of ADRs as a significant increase in the holdings of local shares by foreigners is found, which sheds some light on “multi-market trading” and the ”flow-back” phenomena. Our results show an important characteristic of modern international capital markets as firm and investor actions take place in inter-connected markets. Finally, we find that foreign institutional ownership has real effects as it is positively associated with higher firm valuation.
Augmentation of TNF cytotoxicity by protein kinase C inhibitors: role of arachidonic acid and manganese superoxide dismutase.

The protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors bisindolylmaleimide, calphostin C, H-7 and staurosporine were examined for their effect on tumour necrosis factor (TNF) cytotoxic activity. PKC inhibitors potentiated the cytotoxic activity of TNF in TNF-sensitive cell lines (CL8-1 melanoma and WEHI-164 fibrosarcoma), but had no effect on TNF cytolytic activity in TNF-resistant cells (BL6-8 melanoma and MCA-102 fibrosarcoma). The mechanism(s) of PKC inhibitor-mediated potentiation of the cytotoxic activity of TNF was investigated by analysing the effect of PKC inhibitors on TNF-induced arachidonic acid release in TNF-sensitive and -resistant cells. TNF induced the release of arachidonic acid in TNF-sensitive cells but had no effect in TNF-resistant cells. The combination of PKC inhibitor and TNF potentiated the release of arachidonic acid from TNF-sensitive cells, but failed to induce arachidonic acid release in TNF-resistant cells. Kinetic analysis of TNF-induced arachidonic acid release in CL8-1 melanoma cells revealed that it was an early event which preceded TNF tumour lytic activity. TNF was further shown to induce manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) production in TNF-sensitive cells but failed to induce MnSOD activity in TNF-resistant BL6-8 and MCA 102 cells. MnSOD acts as a scaveneger of toxic superoxide radicals and its induction by TNF paralleled arachidonic acid release. Although the PKC-selective inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide potentiated TNF-induced release of arachidonic acid, it blocked TNF-mediated induction of MnSOD in CL8-1 melanoma and WEHI-164 fibrosarcoma cells. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Impact Assessment of Financial Performance and Leverage on Dividend Policy of Pakistan Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industries

6 Abstract: Dividend declaration represents the profitability and income of firms in any country. Dividend declaration decisions are made by the board of directors in annul general meeting to ensure the life long existence of a firm. The current study has been launched to examine the impact of leverage and profitability on dividend payout policy of firms taken from two industries i.e. Chemical and Pharmaceutical industries. In this regard, 34 listed firms were taken from two industries from 2003-2010. The information were in the form of a penal where ordinary least square method was adopted to test the validly. The results reveal that profitability of any firm positively affects dividend payouts while leverage has no significant effect on firm dividend payouts. Further, the control variable log of total assets also positively affects the dividend payout of the two industries.
Professionalization in Teacher Education As an Interorganizational Learning Challenge

Cultural and social changes, new administrative regulations and curricular reforms have had a significant impact on the work and professional self-image of future teachers in many European countries involved in the Bologna Process. This constellation gives rise to new challenges for established routines, practices and identities of the organizations involved in teacher education. This article deals with processes of professionalization in teacher education and presents new forms of interorganizational cooperation between schools, universities, education authorities and extracurricular agencies. Three case studies from Germany and Austria clearly demonstrate that different organizational cultures as well as different professional self-images meet in cooperative environments. The goal of the article is to analyse systematically the various interorganizational learning challenges in the field of teacher education.
The Elderly and Their Attitudes Toward the Internet: The Impact on Internet Use, Purchase, and Comparison Shopping

Those senior citizens who have a more positive attitude about the Internet are more likely to use the Internet, to buy online, and to use the Internet for comparison shopping than those seniors with a less positive attitude toward the Internet. Moreover, those seniors who are confident in their ability to use the Internet, who are comfortable using the Internet, and who are experienced in using computers would be more likely to use the Internet for comparison shopping; but there is no link between seniors' satisfaction with their computer skills and use of the Internet for comparison shopping.
Marketing and distribution of Garcinia kola (Bitter kola) in southwest Nigeria: opportunity for development of a biological product.

The study evaluates the different marketing of Bitter kola (Garcinia kola) starting from the point of production with the view to improving the trade. Farmers have Garcinia trees on their farm and these were spared during land preparation for farming. Marketing of Garcinia nuts generated appreciable income to the producers and intermediaries. Unfortunately, Garcinia trees are currently on the decrease as a result of deforestation; this therefore calls for urgent attention on the establishment of Garcinia plantation. Diversification of the products should be encouraged to create more market opportunities and accrued benefits.
Failure To Genotype Herpes Simplex Virus by Real-Time PCR Assay and Melting Curve Analysis Due to Sequence Variation within Probe Binding Sites

ABSTRACT Real-time PCR with melting curve analysis of PCR products is a rapid procedure for detecting and genotyping herpes simplex virus (HSV). When testing mucocutaneous samples for HSV by a real-time PCR assay targeting the DNA polymerase gene, we found that some PCR products had atypical melting curves that did not conform to the expected melting temperatures for HSV type 1 or 2. Sequence analysis showed that these strains had base-pair mismatches over the probe binding sites. An alternative assay is required to type such atypical isolates.
Innovation and Risk-taking Propensity of Generation Y Students in South Africa

Unemployment is a major problem in South Africa, especially among the Generation Y cohort. Many studies have been conducted not only in South Africa but across the world in an attempt to stem the tide of the continued rise in unemployment. Entrepreneurship, amongst other things, helps create jobs and generate wealth. The objective of this research study was to determine the perceptions of Generation Y students as regarding themselves as being innovative and risk-takers from an entrepreneurial perspective. Innovation and the willingness to take risk have been identified as important factors to become an entrepreneur. To collect the necessary data a convenience sampling method was employed where students were selected from two higher education institutions. A self-administered questionnaire was given to students to complete. The data were analysed using Principal Components Analysis to determine which items loaded on the two different constructs. T-tests were used to identify differences in responses from males and females as well as from designated racial groups. There were no significant differences found with regard to the innovative propensity construct between males and females, as well as between the two designated racial groups. While there were no significant differences the study showed that students had innovative characteristics. However, a number of significant differences were found with regard to the risk-taking propensity construct between the different groups as one designated racial group was more willing to take risks. It can be recommended that higher education institutions need to look at ways of how these entrepreneurial skills can be harnessed. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014. v5n21p19
Managerial Psychology, Failed Alliance-Structures and Strategic Decisions: The Case of Xerox, Inc. (2012-2015)

During 2009-2013, Xerox, Inc. (“XRX”) operated in a very difficult environment characterized by mature products, technical insolvency, high perceived risk, low stock prices; failed acquisitions; apparent group-think; Managerial Entrenchment; apparent lack of coordination among Xerox’s subsidiaries and managers; and inadequate innovation and insufficient diversification. This article: i) introduces new theories such as the Cost-Substitution Theory; the Alliance-Dependency Bias; the Recursive Integration Deficit Theory; the Time-Consistent Recursive Leadership Failure Theory; and the Market-Response Bias; iii) presents possible solutions to some of the problems that XRX faced during 2012-2013; iv) explains how XRX’s operations were adversely hampered by strategic alliances and sub-optimal decision making; but could have been positively affected by a proposed restructuring, improved leadership, strategic alliances and joint ventures; v) presents evidence of Regulatory Failures; vi) summarizes key factors that may affect companys’ receptiveness to corporate venturing proposals.
Disformal invariance of cosmological perturbations in a generalized class of Horndeski theories

It is known that Horndeski theories can be transformed to a sub-class of Gleyzes-Langlois-Piazza-Vernizzi (GLPV) theories under the disformal transformation of the metric gμ ν → Ω2(ϕ)gμ ν+Γ (ϕ,X) ∇μ ϕ ∇ν ϕ, where Ω is a function of a scalar field ϕ and Γ is another function depending on both ϕ and X=gμ ν∇μ ϕ ∇ν ϕ. We show that, with the choice of unitary gauge, both curvature and tensor perturbations on the flat isotropic cosmological background are generally invariant under the disformal transformation. By means of the effective field theories encompassing Horndeski and GLPV theories, we obtain the second-order actions of scalar/tensor perturbations and present the relations for physical quantities between the two frames. The invariance of the inflationary power spectra under the disformal transformation is explicitly proved up to next-to-leading order in slow-roll. In particular, we identify the existence of the Einstein frame in which the tensor power spectrum is of the same form as that in General Relativity and derive the condition under which the spectrum of gravitational waves in GLPV theories is red-tilted.
Who endorses whom? Meanings transfer in celebrity endorsement

Purpose – Celebrity endorsement is one of the most popular forms of marketing, and this study aims to suggest that celebrity endorsement should be considered as a brand alliance, where meanings and values can transfer from either partner to the other. This paper seeks to report on an exploratory attempt to identify the processes involved and explore whether celebrity endorsement should be considered a brand alliance.Design/methodology/approach – After a review of both celebrity endorsement and brand alliance literature, a case of meaning transfer process was examined. The collaboration between Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd and celebrity chef Jamie Oliver was studied as a case, within which a special episode of negative publicity emerged and was analysed through newspaper articles.Findings – A model for a reciprocal meaning transfer process is proposed and the existence of a brand‐alliance‐like relationship in the case is established.Originality/value – The paper is the first qualitative study to examine me.
Role of Donor MHC Class III Genes in the Destruction of Transplanted Islets in NOD Mice

Abstract: MHC class III genes are important in immune regulation and inflammation, and the gene products of this region are well conserved between species. Their role in diabetes is, however, unknown. We used islets from NOD mice that lacked expression of both MHC class I and class II molecules to test the effect of class III differences on the injury of transplanted NOD islets. Loss of islet MHC class I was highly protective, while deletion of MHC class II had no benefit on islet survival. However the combined absence of both MHC class I and class II expression by NOD islets resulted in a delayed form of injury, when islets were transplanted to NOD mice. As neither MHC class I or II molecules were expressed by donor islet tissue, these results suggest a previously unrecognized and important contribution of MHC class III differences on islet injury following transplantation.
Neurokinin B, Neurotensin, and Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists and Parkinson Disease

The neuropeptides neurokinin B, neurotensin, and anandamide, the endogenous ligands of NK3, NT1, and CB1 receptors respectively, are known to interact with brain dopaminergic transmission. This study evaluated the effects of these three antagonists of the NK3 (SR 142801), neurotensin (SR 48692), and cannabinoid (SR 141716) receptors on the severity of motor symptoms and levodopa-induced dyskinesias after administration of a single dose of levodopa in 24 patients with Parkinson disease. In this exploratory randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, at the dose used, the drugs tested were well tolerated and could not improve parkinsonian motor disability.
Accuracy of world-wide-web death searches for persons with traumatic brain injury

Primary objective: Determine (1) the sensitivity of world-wide-web searches for deaths among persons with traumatic brain injuries and (2) factors associated with the likelihood of identifying deceased persons with traumatic brain injuries. Research design: Stratified case series. Methods and procedures: Sequential submission of 371 deceased persons with traumatic brain injuries to a world-wide-web site to determine inclusion in the Social Security Death Index (SSDI). Main outcomes and results: Almost 87% of deceased persons ages 50+ were found, 69.8% of persons ages 30–49 and 34.6% of persons younger than age 30. Other factors influencing the likelihood of finding deceased persons in the SSDI were male gender, white race, being married, knowing the Social Security number and survival of 1+ years post-injury. Conclusions: The SSDI provides useful information for mortality studies among persons with traumatic brain injuries, but does a poor job of identifying deaths among younger persons. Sole reliance on the SSDI may result in under-ascertainment of mortality.
C-GOALS: Chandra observations of a complete sample of luminous infrared galaxies from the IRAS Revised Bright Galaxy Survey

We present X-ray data for a complete sample of 44 luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs), obtained with the Chandra X-ray Observatory. These are the X-ray observations of the high luminosity portion of the Great Observatory All-sky LIRG Survey (GOALS), which includes the most luminous infrared selected galaxies, log (L_(ir)/L_⊙) ≥ 11.73, in the local universe, z ≤ 0.088. X-rays were detected from 43 out of 44 objects, and their arcsec-resolution images, spectra, and radial brightness distributions are presented. With a selection by hard X-ray colour and the 6.4 keV iron line, AGN are found in 37% of the objects, with higher luminosity sources more likely to contain an AGN. These AGN also tend to be found in late-stage mergers. The AGN fraction would increase to 48% if objects with [Ne v]λ14. 3 μm detection are included. Double AGN are clearly detected only in NGC 6240 among 24 double/triple systems. Other AGN are found either in single nucleus objects or in one of the double nuclei at similar rates. Objects without conventional X-ray signatures of AGN appear to be hard X-ray quiet, relative to the X-ray to far-IR correlation for starburst galaxies, as discussed elsewhere. Most objects also show extended soft X-ray emission, which is likely related to an outflow from the nuclear region, with a metal abundance pattern suggesting enrichment by core collapse supernovae, as expected for a starburst.
Magnesium—Essentials for Anesthesiologists

Magnesium plays a fundamental role in many cellular functions, and thus there is increasing interest in its role in clinical medicine. Although numerous experimental studies indicate positive effects of magnesium in a variety of disease states, large clinical trials often give conflicting results. However, there is clear evidence for magnesium to benefit patients with eclampsia or torsades de pointes arrhythmias. In addition, magnesium seems to have antinociceptive and anesthetic as well as neuroprotective effects, yet well-designed large clinical trials are required to determine its actual efficacy in pain management or in the state of stroke or subarachnoid hemorrhage. The current review aims to provide an overview of current knowledge and available evidence with respect to physiologic aspects of magnesium and proposed indications and recommendations for its use in the clinical setting.
Abnormalities in pH handling by peripheral muscle and potential regulation by the autonomic nervous system in chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract. Jones DEJ, Hollingsworth KG, Taylor R, Blamire AM, Newton JL (From the Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre, and Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, UK). Abnormalities in pH handling by peripheral muscle and potential regulation by the autonomic nervous system in chronic fatigue syndrome. J Intern Med 2010; 267: 394–401.
Cost effectiveness of the direct measurement of 3-beta-hydroxybutyrate in the management of diabetic ketoacidosis in children.

A system for the precise quantification of β-hydroxybutyrate (β-HBA) levels in capillary blood has recently been introduced in clinical practice (1). This method allows quantitative measurement of major ketone in circulation during diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) that correlates better than acetoacetate, with changes in acid-base status during the course of treatment for DKA (2). We studied the effectiveness of this quantitative test (MediSense Optium Ketone Sensor; Abbott Laboratories, Bedford, MA) against a commercial test for urine ketone bodies (UKBs) (Keto-Diabur-Test 5,000; Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany) in monitoring DKA in order to verify whether this ketone …