Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multiple principal-agent relationships, corporate-control mechanisms and expropriation through related party transactions

This study investigated the intermediation of expropriation in the linkage between corporate governance and firm value. We manifested the triple principal-agent relationships among minority shareholders, majority shareholders and the board of directors, and conceptualized the expropriation as rents demanded by majority shareholders to compensate their agency function in a theoretical framework of internal and external corporate-control mechanisms for firms with concentrated ownership structure. By using related party transactions as a direct measure for expropriation and the event study, we corroborated the negative value effect of expropriation in China"s stock markets, and found that the controlling capability of controlling shareholders, ownership balancing, identity of controlling shareholders, stock incentives for the board/executives, and the proportion of tradable shares are significantly associated with expropriation. We also found an interact effect between the proportion of tradable shares ande the controlling shareholders on expropriation.
Indiscernible sequences in a model which fails to have the order property

Abstract Basic results on the model theory of substructures of a fixed model are presented. The main point is to avoid the use of the compactness theorem, so this work can easily be applied to the model theory of Lω1,ω and its relatives. Among other things we prove the following theorem: Let M be a model, and let λ be a cardinal satisfying λ∣L(M)∣ = λ. If M does not have the ω-order property, then for every A ⊆ M, ∣A∣ ≤ λ, and every I ⊆ M of cardinality λ+ there exists J ⊆ I cardinality λ+ which is an indiscernible set over A. This is an improvement of a result of S. Shelah.
Sound stimulation modulates high‐threshold K+ currents in mouse auditory brainstem neurons

The auditory system provides a valuable experimental model to investigate the role of sensory activity in regulating neuronal membrane properties. In this study, we have investigated the role of activity directly by measuring changes in medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) neurons in normal hearing mice subjected to 1‐h sound stimulation. Broadband (4–12 kHz) chirps were used to activate MNTB neurons tonotopically restricted to the lateral MNTB, as confirmed by c‐Fos‐immunoreactivity. Following 1‐h sound stimulation a substantial increase in Kv3.1b‐immunoreactivity was measured in the lateral region of the MNTB, which lasted for 2 h before returning to control levels. Electrophysiological patch‐clamp recordings in brainstem slices revealed an increase in high‐threshold potassium currents in the lateral MNTB of sound‐stimulated mice. Current‐clamp and dynamic‐clamp experiments showed that MNTB cells from the sound‐stimulated mice were able to maintain briefer action potentials during high‐frequency firing than cells from control mice. These results provide evidence that acoustically driven auditory activity can selectively regulate high‐threshold potassium currents in the MNTB of normal hearing mice, likely due to an increased membrane expression of Kv3.1b channels.
FOR THE MANY OR THE FEW? EXTRAORDINARY BENEFITS RECEIVED BY TARGET CEOS DURING TAKEOVERS

______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Recent studies [Bebchuk and Fried (2002)] have shown that managerial power and negotiations play important roles in the design of executive pay arrangements, suggesting that some CEOs may extract greater economic rent from shareholders when provided with the opportunity. This paper seeks to explore CEOs rentextracting behaviors by examining golden parachute lump sum payments received by target CEOs and other extraordinary gains they negotiated during M&As. These payments are significantly affected by the CEO's characteristics, firm size and whether the CEO is retained but appears to be unrelated to measures of performance. I find that retained CEOs are more likely to negotiate for additional gains but their success rates are dependent on the positions they occupy in the combined company. My analysis also provides evidence that all these extraordinary benefits (negotiated gains and post-acquisition positions) come at the expense of shareholders, highlighting an agency problem where CEOs trade shareholders value in return for their own personal benefits. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Universal Communication—Part I: Modulo Additive Channels

Which communication rates can be attained over a channel whose output is an unknown (possibly stochastic) function of the input that may vary arbitrarily in time with no a priori model? Following the spirit of the finite-state compressibility of a sequence, defined by Lempel and Ziv, a “capacity” is defined for such a channel as the highest rate achievable by a designer knowing the particular relation that indeed exists between the input and output for all times, yet is constrained to use a fixed finite-length block communication scheme without feedback, i.e., use the same encoder and decoder over each block. In the case of the modulo additive channel, where the output sequence is obtained by modulo addition of an unknown individual sequence to the input sequence, this capacity is upper bounded by a function of the finite state compressibility of the noise sequence. A universal communication scheme with feedback that attains this capacity universally, without prior knowledge of the noise sequence, is presented.
High spectral resolution ozone absorption cross-sections – Part 1: Measurements, data analysis and comparison with previous measurements around 293 K

Abstract. In this paper we discuss the methodology of taking broadband relative and absolute measurements of ozone cross-sections including uncertainty budget, experimental set-ups, and methods for data analysis. We report on new ozone absorption cross-section measurements in the solar spectral region using a combination of Fourier transform and echelle spectrometers. The new cross-sections cover the spectral range 213–1100 nm at a spectral resolution of 0.02–0.06 nm in the UV–visible and 0.12–0.24 nm in the IR at eleven temperatures from 193 to 293 K in steps of 10 K. The absolute accuracy is better than three percent for most parts of the spectral region and wavelength calibration accuracy is better than 0.005 nm. The new room temperature cross-section data are compared in detail with previously available literature data. The temperature dependence of our cross-sections is described in a companion paper (Serdyuchenko et al., 2014).
Xanthohumol Improves Diet-induced Obesity and Fatty Liver by Suppressing Sterol Regulatory Element-binding Protein (SREBP) Activation*

Background: Flavonoids are naturally occurring compounds and are known to regulate various transcription factors. Results: A prenylated flavonoid in hops, xanthohumol, improves diet-induced obesity and fatty liver by suppressing SREBP activation. Conclusion: Xanthohumol is a novel SREBP inactivator. Significance: Xanthohumol can be used as a nutraceutical food or pharmacological agent for improving metabolic syndrome. Sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) are key transcription factors that stimulate the expression of genes involved in fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis. Here, we demonstrate that a prenylated flavonoid in hops, xanthohumol (XN), is a novel SREBP inactivator that reduces the de novo synthesis of fatty acid and cholesterol. XN independently suppressed the maturation of SREBPs of insulin-induced genes in a manner different from sterols. Our results suggest that XN impairs the endoplasmic reticulum-to-Golgi translocation of the SREBP cleavage-activating protein (SCAP)-SREBP complex by binding to Sec23/24 and blocking SCAP/SREBP incorporation into common coated protein II vesicles. Furthermore, in diet-induced obese mice, dietary XN suppressed SREBP-1 target gene expression in the liver accompanied by a reduction of the mature form of hepatic SREBP-1, and it inhibited the development of obesity and hepatic steatosis. Altogether, our data suggest that XN attenuates the function of SREBP-1 by repressing its maturation and that it has the potential of becoming a nutraceutical food or pharmacological agent for improving metabolic syndrome.
Induction of proinflammatory mediators requires activation of the TRAF, NIK, IKK and NF‐κB signal transduction pathway in astrocytes infected with Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli is associated with inflammation in the brain. To investigate whether astrocytes are involved in E. coil‐induced inflammation, we assessed the levels of expression of proinflammatory mediators produced by E. coli‐infected astrocytes. E. coli infection in primary human astrocytes and cell lines increased expression of the CXC chemokine IL‐8/GRO‐α, the CC chemokine MCP‐1, TNF‐α, and iNOS. E. coli infection activated p65/p50 heterodimeric NF‐κB and concurrently decreased the signals of IκBα. Blocking the NF‐κB signals by IκBα‐superrepressor‐containing retrovirus or antisense p50 oligonucleotide transfection resulted in down‐regulation of expression of the proinflammatory mediators. Furthermore, superrepressors of IκBα, IκB kinase (IKK) or NF‐κB inducing kinase (NIK) inhibited the up‐regulated expression of the downstream target genes of NF‐κB such as IL‐8 and MCP‐1, and superrepressors of TNF receptor‐associated factor (TRAF)2 and TRAF5 also inhibited expression of the E. coli‐induced target genes of NF‐κB. These results indicate that proinflammatory mediators such as the CXC chemokine IL‐8/GRO‐α, the CC chemokine MCP‐1, TNF‐α, and iNOS can be expressed in E. coli‐infected astrocytes via an NF‐κB pathway, suggesting that these mediators may contribute to inflammation in the brain, including infiltration of inflammatory cells.
Analysis of Telomerase Activity and Telomere Lengths in Human Umbilical Cord Cell Populations During Ex Vivo Amplification of Hematopoietic Stem Cells

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS.4 LIST OF FIGURES.5 LIST OF TABLES.6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.7 BACKGROUND.8 PROJECT PURPOSE.23 MATERIALS AND METHODS.24 RESULTS.37 DISCUSSION.57 BIBLIOGRAPHY.63
Insider Trading, Competition, and Real Activities Manipulation

We consider a setting where managers manipulate the firms’ real activities in anticipation of insider trading opportunities. Managers choose strictly higher production quantities than the quantities chosen absent insider trading, implying lower firm profit but higher consumer surplus. Through comparative statics, we show the overproduction is mitigated by the degree of competition in the industry, the manager’s current equity stake in the firm, and the precision of cost information. We also analyze the effects of insider trading in several extensions including asymmetric ownership structure, potential horizontal merger, and common market maker. This paper was accepted by Shiva Rajgopal, accounting.
Nurses’ Perceptions of the Organizational Supports Needed for the Delivery of Culturally Competent Care

The purpose of this study was to determine nurses’ views on the organizational supports needed for the delivery of culturally competent care. The research design was qualitative, with a case study approach. Data collection included face-to-face interviews with 23 registered nurses, document analysis, and reports of critical incidents. The findings of this study revealed that caring for culturally diverse clients was challenging and frustrating for most participants. Major themes emerging from the data included language barriers, lack of training, difficulty with cultural differences, lack of organizational support, and reliance on culturally diverse staff members. Few organizational supports existed for delivering culturally competent care. Expectations were not explicit, and culturally competent care was not rewarded or supported. Recommendations for organizations, nursing practice, theory, and future research are made.
An analysis of antecedents and consequences of trust in a corporate brand

Purpose – The paper aims to present a comprehensive framework for understanding consumer trust in a corporate brand, incorporating both the antecedents and consequences of trust. The paper also seeks to account explicitly for the differences in antecedents and consequences of trust found among customers and among non‐customers.Design/methodology/approach – Data were obtained from 308 face‐to‐face interviews conducted in Germany. Structural equation modelling was used in order to test the proposed hypotheses.Findings – The results indicate that competence and credibility have a high explanatory power as antecedents of trust. Trust has a considerable impact on supplier selection for existing and new products, as well as on the word‐of‐mouth (WOM) behaviour of consumers. There are strong differences between customers and non‐customers in terms of the antecedents and consequences of trust in a corporate brand.Research limitations/implications – In order to generalise the findings, the model needs to be tested.
Retinal pigment epithelium of the rat express CD81, the target of the anti-proliferative antibody (TAPA).

PURPOSE The present study focuses on the role of CD81, the target of the anti-proliferative antibody (TAPA), in the regulation of the growth of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). METHODS RPE of 8-day-old rat pups was cultured. The level of CD81 in the cultures was defined by immunoblot methods, and the distribution of the protein was examined using indirect immunohistochemical methods. In addition, the effects of the antibody binding were tested in culture. RESULTS CD81 was found in all layers of the normal retina with a distinct absence of labeling in the inner and outer segments of the photoreceptors. Based on the authors' original immunohistochemical analysis, it was difficult to determine whether CD81 was expressed by RPE. By examining cultures of RPE it was demonstrated that CD81 was expressed on the surface of these cells and that it was concentrated at regions of cell-cell contact. Indirect immunohistochemical methods using a peroxidase-labeled secondary antibody in albino mice revealed heavy labeling of the RPE in the intact eye. When the AMP1 antibody (directed against the large extracellular loop of CD81) was added to cultured RPE, the mitotic activity of the cells was depressed. CONCLUSIONS CD81 was found in the normal rat retina. Previous studies demonstrated that CD81 was expressed in retinal glia, the Müller cells that span the thickness of the retina, and astrocytes found in the ganglion cell layer. The present study demonstrated that CD81 was also expressed by RPE. The dramatic effects of the AMP1 antibody and the location of CD81 at regions of cell-cell contact support the hypothesis that this molecule is part of a molecular switch controlling contact inhibition.
A meta-analysis of extended-interval dosing versus multiple daily dosing of aminoglycosides.

We conducted a meta-analysis of 22 randomized, controlled trials in which extended-interval dosing of aminoglycosides was compared with multiple daily dosing. When we classified intermediate outcomes as successes, we found that patients receiving extended-interval dosing were at significantly reduced risk of clinical treatment failure (risk difference, -3.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI], -6.7% to -0.2%; P = .039) and that there was a trend toward reduced risk of bacteriologic failure (risk difference, -1.7%; 95% CI, -5.4% to +2.1%; P = .38). Reclassification of intermediate outcomes as failures yielded similar results. There was significant heterogeneity among the trials, necessitating cautious interpretation of these outcomes. There were negligible differences in the risk of nephrotoxicity (risk difference, -0.6%; 95% CI, -2.4% to +1.1%; P = .46) and ototoxicity (risk difference, +0.3%; 95% CI, -1.2% to +1.8%; P = .71). We conclude that for many indications, extended-interval dosing of aminoglycosides appears to be as effective as conventional dosing, with similar rates of toxicity. The added convenience of extended-interval dosing makes it an attractive alternative to conventional dosing.
cHALO, stateful aspects in C

History-based pointcut languages are a very expressive and powerful means to obtain robust pointcuts. To implement them in an efficient way, people have proposed various optimisations and program history retention strategies, especially for Java-based aspect languages. In this paper, we focus on history-based pointcut languages for C, which has no provisions for weak references or automatic garbage collection. Because C programmers want explicit control over pointcut behaviour and memory footprint, we claim that a limited set of fine-grained temporal pointcut primitives with well-known memory behaviour strikes a good balance between flexibility and memory consumption. A working prototype (cHALO) has been designed and implemented, based on the HALO pointcut language for Lisp.
The influence of CSR on purchasing behaviour in Peru and Spain

Purpose – The research study has three objectives. One is to provide empirical validation of the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate abilities (CA) as an influential factor in socially responsible consumption. The second is to ascertain whether there are significant differences between CSR parameters estimated in the purchasing decisions of consumers from Peru and Spain. Finally, the authors aim to measure people's trade‐off between the social (CSR) and traditional (CA) features of their purchasing decisions in terms of their willingness to pay.Design/methodology/approach – A discrete choice modelling experiment was used to test the relationship between CSR and CA, quantify consumers’ intention to purchase, and establish their willingness to pay for specific social features.Findings – It was found that there is a positive relationship between CSR and CA regarding consumer behaviour and that Peruvian consumers seem to be more sensitive to CSR features of products than S.
Short communication In vitro eye irritation testing using the open source reconstructed hemicornea – a ring trial 1

Aim of the present ring trial was to prove whether two new methodological approaches for the in vitro classification of eye irritating chemicals can be reliably transferred from the developers’ laboratories to other sites. Both test methods are based on the well-established open source reconstructed 3D hemicornea models. In the first approach, the initial depth of injury in the hemicornea model after chemical treatment is derived from the quantitative analysis of histological sections. In the second approach tissue viability, as a measure for corneal damage after chemical treatment, is analyzed separately for epithelium and stroma of the hemicornea model. The 3 independent laboratories which participated in the ring trial produced their own hemicornea models according to the test producer's instructions, thus supporting the open source concept. A total of 9 chemicals with different physico-chemical and eye-irritating properties were tested to assess the between-laboratory reproducibility (BLR), the predictive performance as well as possible limitations of the test systems. The BLR was 62.5% for the first and 100% for the second method. Both methods enabled to discriminate cat 1 chemicals from all non-cat 1 substances, which qualifies them to be used in a top-down approach. However, the selectivity between no cat and cat 2 chemicals still needs optimization.
An Examination of the Relationships Established Between a Whitewater Rafting Provider and Its Male and Female Customers

ABSTRACT This study investigated the differences between females and males with respect to the way they developed relationships with a provider of nature-based tourism. The participants were 279 individuals who took a group on a whitewater rafting trip in the Southeastern United States. The findings indicated that looking at the resources exchanged between customers and provider can provide a theoretical basis for understanding customer relationships. In this study Resource Theory was used to conceptualize customer/provider exchanges. Results suggested that women and men tend to invest in their relationships with providers differently. Female customers received less status than males and also invested less love. Based on the findings it is suggested that using theoretical frameworks borrowed from the study of interpersonal relationships may prove useful in understanding customer/provider relationships. It is also suggested that marketers should develop differentiated relationship strategies when targeting females and males.
Economic Impact of Unsafe Abortion-Related Morbidity and Mortality: Evidence and Estimation Challenges

Unsafe abortion-related morbidity and mortality exacts a huge cost in developing countries in terms of the lives and health of women and economically. The empirical data needed to estimate these costs are scant, but several studies of direct health system costs are available. These data allow cost estimation using two distinct methodologies, one which uses cost-per-patient data, and one which uses a model of ideal treatment inputs. Using these two methodologies, the total cost to the developing world is between US$ 375–838 million annually, with a central estimate of around $500 million. Regional cost estimates show abortion complications are considerably more expensive to treat in sub-Saharan Africa than Latin America. Millions of women with serious complications receive no treatment. If they were able to do so, an additional US$ 375 million would be expended, but this estimate rests on scant empirical data. The cost of long-term morbidities, mainly infertility and chronic reproductive tract infections, may cost many billions of dollars annually, while the loss to the economies of developing countries from lower productivitymay bemore thanUS$400million. Out-of-pocket expenses for women and their families may amount to a further US$ 600million. Although few data exist for these latter estimates, they show that the total cost of unsafe abortion is many times greater than the direct health costs, for which solid evidence does exist.
Review of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Horses and Veterinary Personnel who Work With Horses

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus remains an important zoonotic and equine pathogen worldwide. Equine veterinarians need to be aware that MRSA is present in the equine population so that further dissemination of this pathogen can be curbed. Veterinary personnel who work with horses seem to be at increased risk of MRSA colonization, but close attention to routine infection-control measures such as hand hygiene may help decrease this risk. Authors’ address: Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada; e-mail: mander01@uoguelph.ca (Anderson). © 2008 AAEP.
Analyzing the Determinants of Systematic Risk in the Jordanian Banking Sector

This research provides experienced more determinants behind the systematic risk surrounding banks. For this purpose, we use a number of regression models to test of there are statistical significance relations among a wide range of financial indicators and risk-assessment measure named “beta”. The results indicate that bank equity beta correlates positively with bank size, the volume of loans and the leverage ratio, and negatively with bank profitability, liquidity levels and loan loss provisions. The study refers to the Jordanian banking sector. Our findings are of significance both to bank managers as well as investors, since they will enable them to fully assess the effects of different strategic choices on a bank’s risk profile. We concluded potential policy implications regarding the impact of Basel III for observed risk-leverage relationship.