Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Bonding Hypothesis of Takeover Defenses: Evidence from IPO Firms

We propose and test an efficiency explanation for why firms deploy takeover defenses using initial public offering (IPO) firm data. We hypothesize that takeover defenses bond the firm׳s commitments by reducing the likelihood that an outside takeover will change the firm׳s operating strategy and impose costs on its business partners. Consistent with this hypothesis, we find that IPO firms deploy more takeover defenses when they have important business relationships to protect. An IPO firm׳s use of takeover defenses is positively related to the longevity of its business relationships. IPO firms’ use of takeover defenses creates positive spillovers for their large customers. And IPO firms’ valuation and subsequent operating performance are positively related to their use of takeover defenses when they have important business relationships.
Effect of Candidate Vaginally-Applied Microbicide Compounds on Recognition of Antigen by CD4+ and CD8+ T Lymphocytes1

Abstract Vaginally applied antimicrobial compounds (microbicides) are being developed as an alternative method for preventing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. In addition to identifying compounds effective against a spectrum of sexually transmitted pathogens, it will be important to ensure that these compounds are safe. Avoiding toxicity, inflammatory responses, or alteration of the function of resident immune cells are important considerations for the development of vaginally applied microbicides. Studies were performed with two classes of candidate microbicide compounds to determine if they would interfere with the recognition of antigen by CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. The presence of nontoxic concentrations of the anionic detergent cholic acid or the sulfated polymer lambda carrageenan did not inhibit recognition of immune peptide by antigen-specific T cells. However, antigen recognition by both CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes was inhibited in the presence of the naphthalene sulfonate polymer PRO 2000. Brief (4-h) exposure of antigen-presenting cells or T cells to PRO 2000 did not result in inhibition of antigen uptake and processing by antigen-presenting cells or the ability of specific T cells to respond to antigen stimulation, suggesting that the inhibition was temporary. Binding of antibodies specific for CD18, CD8, and CD3 was impaired in the presence of PRO 2000, suggesting that the mechanism by which this microbicide inhibits T cell recognition of antigenic peptide may involve masking or internalization of surface proteins involved in T cell signaling or stabilizing T cell-antigen-presenting cell interactions. The assays described in this study represent a useful means to screen candidate topical microbicide compounds for inappropriate interactions with immune cells and may be useful for prioritization of candidate microbicide compounds.
A Systolic Power-Sum Circuit for GF(2^m)

A systolic power-sum circuit designed to perform AB/sup 2/+C computations in the finite field GF(2/sup m/) is presented, where A, B, and C are arbitrary elements of GF(2/sup m/). This new circuit is constructed by m/sup 2/ identical cells, each of which consists of three 2-input AND logical gates, one 2-input XOR gate, one 3-input XOR gate, and ten latches. The AB/sup 2/+C computation is required in decoding many error-correcting codes. The paper shows that a decoder implemented using the new power-sum circuit will have less complex circuitry and shorter decoding delay than one implemented using conventional product-sum multipliers. >
CSR and Profitability in IDX Agricultural Subsectors

Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on profitability in agricultural sector companies, especially the agricultural sub-sector in the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). These sub-sectors are designated as one sub-plantation group with one value and another valuable sub-sector. This study uses secondary data of financial statements for the period 2015–2016 accessed on the following website: www.idx. co.id. Design/Methodology/Approach – The data analysis method used in this research, using dummy regression method with an independent variable, is called Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR); Return on Assets (ROA), Return on Equity (ROE), and Net Profit Margin (NPM) are used as dependent variables. Besides this, this study included a sub-sector variable in agricultural sector as a dummy variable. Findings – This study found that the ability to explain CSR is greater by the ROE on plantation companies. These findings indicate that CSR has a signal for investors when investing in capital markets. Research Limitations/Implications – This study had restrictiveness in model that was used only profitability ratio as an independent variable. This study also used during a two-year period. Alongside that, the next study is needed to search in other sectors by entering a sector variable as a dummy variable. Practical Implications – Implementation of CSR was a solution for company to repair organizational and financial performance. So, Properly Company Management uncertainly implement CSR on their environment. Originality/Value – All sub-sectors in agriculture in the IDX did not have different viewpoints for the implementation of a CSR program to their environment.
Radiation sensitivity and growth characteristics of an arginine- and uracil-starved culture of Escherichia coli strain 15 t-a-u-.

SUMMARY: A logarithmic-phase culture of Escherichia coli strain 15T-A-U-, in which protein and RNA syntheses were inhibited for 90 min. by withdrawal of arginine and uracil, was compared with a culture grown with all required nutrients present until 90–120 min. after the end of exponential increase in extinction (early stationary phase). The two cultures were indistinguishable by tests of radiation (ultraviolet, gamma) sensitivity, growth kinetics and morphology. It is concluded that the interruption of protein and RNA syntheses during active logarithmic growth forced the culture into the stationary phase.
AMIODARONE IODINE‐INDUCED HYPOTHYROIDISM: RISK FACTORS AND FOLLOW‐UP IN 28 CASES

Amiodarone, an iodine‐rich drug widely used for the treatment of cardiac tachyarrhythmias, may induce either hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Of 467 patients chronically treated with this drug referred to our institution, amiodarone iodine‐induced hypothyroidism (AIIH) developed in 28 patients (6%). AIIH patients were subdivided into two groups according to the presence (group A) or absence (group B) of underlying thyroid abnormalities. Thyroid autoantibodies were present in 10 of 19 patients from group A and 0 of 9 patients from group B. The thyroid 24‐h radioiodine uptake (RAIU) was evaluated in 15 patients: low values (<4%) were found in three patients and detectable values (7–50%) were observed in 12. Perchlorate discharge tests were positive in all four patients tested. Follow‐up data were available in 20 patients (16 in group A and four in group B). Hypothyroidism was transient in 12 (60%) and persistent for several months after amiodarone withdrawal in eight (40%). While all patients in group B had transient hypothyroidism, 50% of patients with underlying thyroid abnormalities (group A) had persistent hypothyroidism. Thyroid autoantibodies were found in seven of eight patients with persistent hypothyroidism and in only three of 12 patients with transient hypothyroidism. Conversely, seven of 10 patients with positive thyroid autoantibodies had persistent hypothyroidism and 9 of 10 patients with undetectable thyroid autoantibodies had transient hypothyroidism. These data indicate that: (i) AIIH may develop in patients with or without underlying thyroid abnormalities; (ii) RAIU is inappropriately elevated in many patients with AIIH; (iii) intrathyroidal iodine is not organified; (iv) serum thyroid autoantibodies represent a risk factor for the development of AIIH; (v) AIIH spontaneously remits after amiodarone withdrawal in patients without thyroid abnormalities, but may persist in patients with concomitant thyroid disorders, especially those with circulating thyroid autoantibodies.
Enhancing customers’ positive responses: Applying sensory marketing to the hotel website

Abstract Sensory marketing enables visualization of intangible services, helping to promote customers’ future hotel experiences. This study investigates how sensory information, brand relationships, and review types affect customers’ responses in the context of the hotel industry. Customers’ response types include narrative persuasion, experiential, emotional, and cognitive responses. Conducting two 2 × 2 scenario-based between-subjects experiments with previous hotel customers in the US, Study 1 confirms the effect of brand relationships on story-format sensory information that promote customers’ transportation experience, brand experience, and emotional responses. Study 2 also identifies effects of review types on story-format sensory information that enhance customers’ transportation experience, brand experience, and trust. Results inform theoretical contributions and practical implications to promote customers’ future experiences.
Application of PCR to multiple specimen types for diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection: comparison with cell culture and shell vial assay

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a herpesvirus that is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in congenitally infected infants and immunocompromised patients. Antiviral therapies are available, thus making timely diagnosis of significant importance to at-risk patients. A PCR system was devised. The newly devised system, unlike previously described systems, can be applied to a wide variety of specimen types in a clinical microbiology laboratory setting. Specimens from all sites routinely accepted for CMV culture were shown to be acceptable for CMV PCR. Sensitivity and specificity were established in comparison with those of both monolayer culture and shell vial assay (SVA). The sensitivity and specificity of PCR for detection of CMV in specimens exclusive of urine and blood were 97.5 (77 of 79 specimens) and 87.2% (41 of 47 specimens), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of PCR for urine and blood specimens were 100 (10 of 10) and 95.7% (45 of 47) and 66.7 (4 of 6) and 78.8% (41 of 52), respectively. Discrepancies of positive PCR results with negative culture or SVA results occurred for specimens flanked chronologically by other culture- or SVA-positive specimens and were likely culture failures, increasing the specificity (100%) of PCR. Discrepancies of negative PCR results with positive culture or SVA results occurred in specimens with few cells or infectious foci by SVA or culture and may represent sampling variability associated with low virus titers.
Environment and Blood Pressure

ENVIRONMENT AND BLOOD PRESSURE Environmental factors in the production of chronic disease have recently been given increasing attention. The Pneumoconiosis Research Unit in South Wales has been in the forefront in this work, and its interest has not been restricted to respiratory diseases. Recently workers there have been studying levels of arterial blood pressure in the general population, and W. E. Miall and P. D. Oldham' have described a study of samples of the population of the Rhondda Fach, a mining valley, and of the Vale of Glamorgan, an agricultural area. The samples, chosen at random, were assumed to be representative of the general population in these two districts and were used as the index cases (propositi) for inheritance studies in which measurements were also made for all the first-degree relatives living within 25 miles of the centre of each area. These relatives comprise parents, siblings, and children. The measurements were made under standard circumstances by one observer. The results from the samples have been used for fitting curves relating arterial pressure with age, and these show that there is no material difference in the relationship in the two populations despite their strikingly different environments. In further analyses of environmental factors the data from both districts have according,ly been pooled. Comparisons of the arterial pressure of individuals is not possible without standardizing for age and sex. A system of scoring devised by M. Hamilton and his associates2 has been followed to allow for these variables so that direct comparisons may be made. In this way a number of environmental factors were shown to have a considerable influence on arterial blood pressure. Occupation, either directly or indirectly through economic factors, appeared to affect pressure. People in light work with less expenditure of energy, higher incomes, and higher standards of living had higher pressures. Heavy manual workers with higher expenditure of
[Anatomic distribution of embolus at CT pulmonary angiography in patients suspected acute pulmonary embolism].

OBJECTIVE To summarize and analyse the morphology and distribution of embolus in patients suspected acute pulmonary embolism. METHODS The CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) imagings of 279 patients suspected acute pulmonary embolism were analysed retrospectively in Ningxia from January 2004 through June 2006 and in Beijing from September 2005 through October 2006. The incidence of central embolus, peripheral embolus and mixed embolus, and the distribution and the morphology of embolus in different levels of pulmonary arteries were analysed. RESULTS A total of 279 patients (158 males, 121 females; Median age was 63 years) were recruited. The incidence of central embolus, peripheral embolus and mixed embolus were 3.5%, 40.9% and 55.6%, respectively. There were 1850 emboli found above the segmental pulmonary arterial, 58.2% were found in right pulmonary artery, and 41.8% in left pulmonary artery. For all of the emboli, there were 29.7% in bilateral upper lobes, 18.3% in medial lobe and lingual lobe, and 49.8% in bilateral lower lobes. The percent of A, B and C type embolus were 81.7%, 7.6% and 10.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION It was not unusual for the peripheral thrombosis, and can be improved to detect peripheral thrombosis by thin-slice CT scan. The distribution of embolus in pulmonary vascular and the distribution of blood flow was consistent, the number of embolus in right lung were more than left lung, and lower lobes more than upper lobes and middle lobes.
PELAYANAN LEMBAGA ZAKAT UNTUK MENINGKATKAN KEPUASAN MUZAKKI

Zakat is one of the links of a Muslim identity. Zakat not only benefits the recipients, but can provide enormous benefits to those who issue zakat. Zakat institutions basically in providing services must be transparent and can satisfactory to all parties so that it can lead to loyalty of users. Zakat institutions must work how to create the satisfaction of muzakki so that the funds collected more and more. The payment of zakat through one of zakat institutions is a form of tabligh and at the same time gives an example to other parties to implement the teachings of zakat in an organized manner. In addition, zakat institutions should also improve the quality of service so that with good service the zakat institution users will be more loyal. With loyalty it can cause muzakki more tied with zakat institution.
secG and Temperature Modulate Expression of Azide-Resistant and Signal Sequence Suppressor Phenotypes of Escherichia coli secA Mutants

ABSTRACT SecA is a dynamic protein that undergoes ATP-dependent membrane cycling to drive protein translocation across the Escherichia coli inner membrane. To understand more about this process, azide-resistant (azi) and signal sequence suppressor (prlD) alleles of secA were studied. We found that azide resistance is cold sensitive because of a direct effect on protein export, suggesting that SecA-membrane interaction is regulated by an endothermic step that is azide inhibitable. secGfunction is required for expression of azide-resistant and signal sequence suppressor activities of azi and prlDalleles, and in turn, these alleles suppress cold-sensitive and export-defective phenotypes of a secG null mutant. These remarkable genetic observations support biochemical data indicating that SecG promotes SecA membrane cycling and that this process is dependent on an endothermic change in SecA conformation.
Evaluation of analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect of nanoparticles of magnesium oxide in mice with and without ketamine.

OBJECTIVES According to importance and increasing application of nanoparticles and their toxicity, the identification effects of nanoparticles on physiological systems are essential. Some studies show magnesium has analgesic effect in some pain models but this evaluation was not carried on nano-magnesium oxide (MgO). Thus, present study was designed to evaluation effect of Mgo nanoparticles alone and in combination with ketamine on two pain and inflammation model in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS At this study, adult male mice was used which had 29±3 gram weight. Formalin and acetic acid tests were carried. Acetic acid (1%) was intraperitoneally injected 0.3ml and the abdominal writhing was counted from 10 to 30 minutes after it. Formalin (2.5%) was injected 0.04 ml/mouse subcutaneously in plantar site of mice. The time of licking was cumulatively measured 0-5 (acute phase) and 15-25 (chronic phase) minutes later. Control (negative control), ketamine (0.1 mg/kg), MgO nanoparticles (5 and 10 mg/kg), conventional MgO (5 and 10 mg/kg) and ketamine with conventional and nanoparticles MgO groups were studied in both tests. RESULTS Mean of writhing was significantly decreased by all drugs with comparison to control group (p = 0.0001). This decreasing was significant between conventional and nanoparticle MgO. The time of licking at both acute and chronic phases of formalin test was significantly decreased by all drugs with comparison to control group. However, this mean had significant difference with MgO nanoparticles. CONCLUSIONS It seems that the nano-MgO induces analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects through central and peripheral mechanisms at experimental formalin and acetic acid testes and potentiates effect of ketamine.
Semantic processing skills of Grade 1 English language learners in two educational contexts

This paper reports on part of the first phase of a longitudinal project investigating the development of academic language in English as the Language of Teaching and Learning (LoLT) by Foundation phase learners in two different educational contexts. In the first context, the learners were all English additional language (EAL) learners taught by EAL teachers. In the second context EAL and English first language (L1) learners were taught by L1 teachers in integrated classes. The three groups of Grade 1 learners were assessed on the semantic subtests of the Diagnostic Evaluation of Language Variation Criterion, Referenced Edition, which evaluate the psycholinguistic processing skills underlying lexical acquisition and organization. Vocabulary learning is central to the development of academic language and literacy. There were statistically significant differences between the three groups on all measures. The EAL learners in the first context had significantly lower scores than the EAL and L1 learners in the second context, and the EAL learners in the second context had significantly lower scores than their L1 peers. Pre-school exposure to English and gender did not have significant effects, except on the subtest assessing fast mapping of novel verbs. The results provide information on what can reasonably be expected from EAL learners in Grade 1, suggest language skills that can be addressed to support the learners, and have implications for language in education practices with EAL learners in different educational contexts. Keywords : educational contexts; English Additional Language learners; vocabulary acquisition
Validation of the Simplified Chinese Version of the Quality of Life Instrument EORTC QLQ-LC43 for Patients with Lung Cancer

Purpose: To validate the simplified Chinese version of the EORTC QLQ-LC43 for lung cancer patients. Methods: The simplified Chinese version of the QLQ-LC43 was used to measure quality of life (QOL) of 181 in-patients with lung cancer at three time points before and after treatment. Psychometric properties of the instrument were evaluated based on the QOL data collected from the patients using correlation analysis, factor analysis and paired t-test. Results: The test-retest reliability r for most domains was higher than 0.60 with a range from 0.53 to 0.80. The internal consistency α for all domains was higher than 0.65 except for cognitive functioning (0.32). Correlation analysis and factor analysis demonstrated good construct validity. The instrument reflected the differences in QOL scores among different age groups, indicating known-groups validity, and revealed good criterion-related validity when FACT-L was used as the criterion. The instrument detected changes of QOL with higher standardized response mean for the patients before and after treatment. Conclusion: The Chinese version of QLQ-LC43 can be used to measure QOL for Chinese patients with lung cancer with good validity, reliability and responsiveness.
Spatial parameters of walking gait and footedness

Objective: The present study was undertaken to assess whether footedness has effects on selected spatial and angular parameters of able-bodied gait by evaluating footprints of young adults. Subjects and methods: A total of 112 males and 93 females were selected from among students and staff members of the University of Malawi using a simple random sampling method. Footedness of subjects was assessed by the Waterloo Footedness Questionnaire Revised. Gait at natural speed was recorded using the footprint method. The following spatial parameters of gait were derived from the inked footprint sequences of subjects: step and stride lengths, gait angle and base of gait. The anthropometric measurements taken were weight, height, leg and foot length, foot breadth, shoulder width, and hip and waist circumferences. Results: The prevalence of right-, left- and mix-footedness in the whole sample of young Malawian adults was 81%, 8.3% and 10.7%, respectively. One-way analysis of variance did not reveal a statistically significant difference between footedness categories in the mean values of anthropometric measurements (p > 0.05 for all variables). Gender differences in step and stride length values were not statistically significant. Correction of these variables for stature did not change the trend. Males had significantly broader steps than females. Normalized values of base of gait had similar gender difference. The group means of step length and normalized step length of the right and left feet were similar, for males and females. There was a significant side difference in the gait angle in both gender groups of volunteers with higher mean values on the left side compared to the right one (t = 2.64, p < 0.05 for males, and t = 2.78, p < 0.05 for females). One-way analysis of variance did not demonstrate significant difference between footedness categories in the mean values of step length, gait angle, bilateral differences in step length and gait angle, stride length, gait base and normalized gait variables of male and female volunteers (p > 0.05 for all variables). Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that footedness does not affect spatial and angular parameters of walking gait.