Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Corporate Governance and Business Growth

Since 1978, China has progressively embraced market principles, establishing an increasingly free market economy and financial system. Stateowned enterprises (SOEs) have gradually become privatised corporations, regulated by laws and codes of practice for the control of markets and investor protection, creating strong foundations for the development of a market economy. These advances have helped China to become the second greatest economy in the world ( World Bank in China, 2017 ). Corporate governance in China has undergone a revolution, driven by the economic reforms of 1978. Between 1945 and 1978, the economy was dominated by state owned and controlled enterprises. However, the policies adopted from 1978 encouraged entrepreneurship. Two stock exchanges now channel funds to the corporate sector and security policies and governing bodies have been established at central and local levels. Ownership reform has reduced state control of commerce and industry from 100 percent in 1978 to 51 percent in 2009 and to 30 percent in 2015, increasing investors’ confidence in markets, based on the CSMAR database. This has also been reinforced by the Code of Corporate Governance of 2002, which strengthened the Chinese corporate sector. However, despite these achievements, political connections strongly influence institutional change, with the state acting as both regulator and actor in commerce. A dual-share ownership structure maintains state dominance, and listed firms have ineffectual boards of directors that undermine attempts to protect investors. In this chapter, we evaluate Chinese corporate governance and its interactions with the internal and external institutional environments. We perform an empirical analysis of mergers and acquisitions, presenting evidence to show how corporate governance has influenced company growth. Our findings will be of value to China and other economies that are now or will in future pursue similar trajectories. In Section 2, we review corporate governance reforms, issues and challenges. Section 3 presents an empirical analysis of corporate governance
Antigenic Diversity among Helicobacter pyloriVacuolating Toxins

ABSTRACT Helicobacter pylori vacuolating cytotoxin (VacA) is a secreted protein that induces vacuolation of epithelial cells. To study VacA structure and function, we immunized mice with purified type s1-m1 VacA from H. pylori strain 60190 and generated a panel of 10 immunoglobulin G1κ anti-VacA monoclonal antibodies. All of the antibodies reacted with purified native VacA but not with denatured VacA, suggesting that these antibodies react with conformational epitopes. Seven of the antibodies reacted with both native and acid-treated VacA, which suggests that epitopes present on both oligomeric and monomeric forms of the toxin were recognized. Two monoclonal antibodies, both reactive with epitopes formed by amino acids in the carboxy-terminal portion of VacA (amino acids 685 to 821), neutralized the cytotoxic activity of type s1-m1 VacA when toxin and antibody were mixed prior to cell contact but failed to neutralize the cytotoxic activity of type s1-m2 VacA. Only 3 of the 10 antibodies consistently recognized type s1-m1 VacA toxins from multiple H. pylori strains, and none of the antibodies recognized type s2-m2 VacA toxins. These results indicate that there is considerable antigenic diversity among VacA toxins produced by different H. pylori strains.
Head and Spinal Trajectories in Children and Adults Exposed to Low Speed Frontal Acceleration

Head injuries are the most common injuries sustained by children in motor vehicle crashes. Prevention of these injuries through advances in vehicles and restraint systems requires a biofidelic anthropometric test device (ATD). Pediatric ATDs are primarily developed from scaling down adult volunteer and cadaver impact test data. Limited experimental data exist on pediatric head and neck kinematics in order to evaluate the biofidelity of the ATDs. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the head and spinal kinematics of pediatric and adult volunteers in response to a dynamic low-speed frontal sled test. Low speed volunteer testing of five male subjects in each of two specific age groups (9- 12, and 18-30 years) were performed using a pneumatically actuated - hydraulically controlled sled. Safe limits were established from measurement of bumper car accelerations at an amusement park ride (4.9 g, 55.7 msec rise time, 110 msec duration), which we believed to be sub-injurious to the adult and child amusement park population. The bumper car environment was subsequently recreated in the laboratory, by developing a low-speed hydropneumatic sled. As an added measure of safety, the average maximum cart acceleration was 3.59 g for children and 3.78 g for adults, thus producing occupant loads that are approximately 25% less than the bumper car amusement park ride. Spherical reflective markers were placed on the head, neck, torso, upper and lower extremities and tracked using a 3D motion analysis system. An angular rate sensor was mounted to a bite plate of an athletic mouth guard to measure the head rotational velocity. Electromyography sensors were attached to key muscle groups to measure the muscle response of the subjects to the loading environment. Each subject was subjected to six sled runs. Head and neck trajectories were compared between the adult and pediatric subjects. In addition, the effect of habituation on kinematic response was examined by comparing within subject changes in kinematics throughout the series of six sled runs. The full text of this paper may be found at: http://www-nrd.nhtsa. dot.gov/pdf/esv/esv21/09-0263.pdf For the covering abstract see ITRD E145407.
Large-scale survey of Campylobacter species in human gastroenteritis by PCR and PCR-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

A PCR-based study of the incidence of enteropathogenic campylobacter infection in humans was done on the basis of a detection and identification algorithm consisting of screening PCRs and species identification by PCR-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. This was applied to DNA extracted from 3,738 fecal samples from patients with sporadic cases of acute gastroenteritis, submitted by seven regional Public Health Laboratories in England and Wales over a 2-year period. The sending laboratories had cultured "Campylobacter spp. " from 464 samples. The PCR methodologies detected 492 Campylobacter-positive samples, and the combination of culture and PCR yielded 543 Campylobacter-positive samples. There was identity (overlap) for 413 samples, but 79 PCR-positive samples were culture negative, and 51 culture-positive samples were PCR negative. While there was no statistically significant difference between PCR and culture in detection of C. jejuni-C. coli (PCR, 478 samples; culture, 461 samples), PCR provided unique data about mixed infections and non-C. jejuni and non- C. coli campylobacters. Mixed infections with C. jejuni and C. coli were found in 19 samples, and mixed infection with C. jejuni and C. upsaliensis was found in one sample; this was not apparent from culture. Eleven cases of gastroenteritis were attributed to C. upsaliensis by PCR, three cases were attributed to C. hyointestinalis, and one case was attributed to C. lari. This represents the highest incidence of C. hyointestinalis yet reported from human gastroenteritis, while the low incidence of C. lari suggests that it is less important in this context.
Selective and biphasic effect of the membrane lipid peroxidation product 4‐hydroxy‐2,3‐nonenal on N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate channels

Increased oxyradical production and membrane lipid peroxidation occur in neurons under physiological conditions and in neurodegenerative disorders. Lipid peroxidation can alter synaptic plasticity and may increase the vulnerability of neurons to excitotoxicity, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. We report that 4‐hydroxy‐2,3‐nonenal (4HN), an aldehyde product of lipid peroxidation, exerts a biphasic effect on NMDA‐induced current in cultured rat hippocampal neurons with current being increased during the first 2 h and decreased after 6 h. Similarly, 4HN causes an early increase and a delayed decrease in NMDA‐induced elevation of intracellular Ca2+ levels. In contrast, 4HN affects neither the ion current nor the Ca2+ response to α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methylisoxazole‐4‐propionate (AMPA). The initial enhancement of NMDA‐induced current is associated with increased phosphorylation of the NR1 receptor subunit, whereas the delayed suppression of current is associated with cellular ATP depletion and mitochondrial membrane depolarization. Cell death induced by 4HN is attenuated by an NMDA receptor antagonist, but not by an AMPA receptor antagonist. A secreted form of amyloid precursor protein, previously shown to protect neurons against oxidative and excitotoxic insults, prevented each of the effects of 4HN including the early and late changes in NMDA current, delayed ATP depletion, and cell death. These findings show that the membrane lipid peroxidation product 4HN can modulate NMDA channel activity, suggesting a role for this aldehyde in physiological and pathophysiological responses of neurons to oxidative stress.
Stereomicroscopic evaluation of dentinal defects induced by new rotary system: “ProTaper NEXT”

Introduction: The objective of this study was to evaluate dentinal defects formed by new rotary system — Protaper next™ (PTN). Materials and Methods: Sixty single-rooted premolars were selected. All specimens were decoronated and divided into four groups, each group having 15 specimens. Group I specimens were prepared by Hand K-files (Mani), Group II with ProTaper Universal (PT; Dentsply Maillefer), Group III with Hero Shaper (HS; Micro-Mega, Besancon, France), and Group IV with PTN (Dentsply Maillefer). Roots of each specimen were sectioned at 3, 6, and 9mm from the apex and were then viewed under a stereomicroscope to evaluate presence or absence of dentinal defects. Results: In roots prepared with hand files (HFs) showed lowest percentage of dentinal defects (6.7%); whereas in roots prepared with PT, HS, and PTN it was 40, 66.7, and 26.7%, respectively. There was significant difference between the HS group and the PTN group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: All rotary files induced defects in root dentin, whereas the hand instruments induced minimal defects.
Bifidobacterium: An Emerging Clinically Significant Metronidazole-resistant Anaerobe of Mixed Pyogenic Infections

Bifidobacterium sp. are anaerobic, Gram-positive, short, irregular rods with rudimentary branching. These organisms are reported to be associated with health benefits and their significance as a pathogen is not much reported. We are reporting two cases of mixed pyogenic infections due to Bifidobacterium sp. In the first patient, the infection mimicked tubercular bone infection. The second patient was a case of hydronephrosis with double J (DJ) stent blockage. In both cases, Bifidobacterium sp. was isolated in combination with Escherichia coli from the evacuated pus samples. The factors which contributed significantly for detecting Bifidobacterium sp. were gram stain examination, use of rapid and automatic anaerobic cultivation system (Anoxomat, MART Microbiology B.V., The Netherlands), and quick identification by MALDI-TOF (Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Time-of-Flight) Mass Spectrometry (Biomerieux, France). Both strains were found to be resistant to metronidazole and both patients showed a good clinical response to treatment with beta-lactam antibiotics. So, we highlight the importance of seeking Bifidobacterium species in all clinical pyogenic samples.
The clinical significance of tumor-associated antigen RCAS1 expression in the normal, hyperplastic, and malignant uterine endometrium.

OBJECTIVE A tumor-associated antigen, RCAS1, is recognized by 22-1-1 monoclonal antibody. It was found in carcinomas derived from the uterus and ovary and was especially strongly expressed in invasive cancers. A previous investigation showed the RCAS1 expression to be correlated with a poor prognosis in uterine cervical adenocarcinoma. In this study, we examined whether the expression of RCAS1 is associated with the progression of the uterine endometrial neoplasms. METHODS The expression of RCAS1 was evaluated by an immunohistochemical analysis. The tissue specimens used in this study included 46 cases of normal uterine endometrium, 40 cases of hyperplasia, and 121 cases of adenocarcinoma. The relationship between RCAS1 expression and several clinicopathological variables (clinical stage, histology, grade, myometrial invasion, lymph-vascular space invasion, and lymph node metastasis) was also assessed in endometrial adenocarcinoma. RESULTS RCAS1 was positive in 26% of the normal uterine endometrium specimens (12 of 46 total cases), in 32% of the hyperplasia specimens (13 of 40 total cases), and in 68% of the adenocarcinoma specimens (83 of 121 total cases). As a result, the expression of RCAS1 was statistically higher in adenocarcinoma than in the normal and hyperplastic endometrium (P < 0.0001). RCAS1 was statistically detected more frequently in grade 3 than in grade 1 or 2 (P < 0.05); however, there was no correlation between the antigen expression and the clinical stage, myometrial invasion, lymph-vascular space invasion, or lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSION RCAS1 expression might thus be associated with the malignant transformation and poor differentiation observed in uterine endometrial adenocarcinoma.
A critical comparison of equilibrium, non-equilibrium and boundary-driven molecular dynamics techniques for studying transport in microporous materials

Transport in an idealized model with variable pore diameter as well as an AlPO4-5 zeolite is examined using three different molecular dynamics techniques: (1) equilibrium molecular dynamics (EMD); (2) external field nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (EF–NEMD); and (3) dual control volume grand canonical molecular dynamics (DCV–GCMD). The EMD and EF–NEMD methods yield identical transport coefficients for all the systems studied. The transport coefficients calculated using the DCV–GCMD method, however, tend to be lower than those obtained from the EMD and EF–NEMD methods unless a large ratio of stochastic to dynamic moves is used for each control volume, and a streaming velocity is added to all inserted molecules. Through development and application of a combined reaction–diffusion–convection model, this discrepancy is shown to be due to spurious mass and momentum transfers caused by the control volume equilibration procedure. This shortcoming can be remedied with a proper choice of streaming velocity in co.
Carl Woese

Not long after Carl Woese died, I received a message from Robin Gutell asking if I would contribute an article to this issue of RNA Biology. While my admiration for Carl’s contributions to biology knows no bounds, I did not know him well personally. For that reason I advised Robin to strike my name off the list of contributors and replace it with that of someone who is better qualified than I am, but he persisted, and here we are. I guess Robin thought it would be useful to hear from one of those who admired Carl from afar. The naïve outsider might find it surprising that a structural biologist like me, who worries about the minutia of the three-dimensional structures of biological macromolecules, would ever have had anything in common with a big-picture, evolutionary biologist like Carl, but I did. What we shared was an interest in the structures of RNAs, especially rRNAs.
Marital status and suicidal ideation among Australian older adults: the mediating role of sense of belonging

ABSTRACT Background: Marriage has been identified as a protective factor in relation to suicide among older adults. The current study aimed to investigate whether sense of belonging mediated the marital status–suicidal ideation relationship, and whether gender moderated the mediation model. It was hypothesized that the relationship between being widowed and lower levels of sense of belonging, and between lower levels of belonging and higher levels of suicidal ideation, would be stronger for older men than older women. Methods: A community sample of Australian men (n = 286) and women (n = 383) aged from 65 to 98 years completed the psychological subscale of the Sense of Belonging Instrument and the suicide subscale of the General Health Questionnaire. Results: The results supported the moderated mediation model, with gender influencing the marital status–sense of belonging relation. For men, widowhood was associated with lower levels of belongingness, whereas for women, marital status was unrelated to sense of belonging. Conclusions: It would appear crucial to develop and implement interventions which assist older men to find new ways to feel important and valued after the death of their spouse.
Modélisation bidimensionnelle de processus non stationnaires et application à l'étude du fond sous-marin

Dans cette these, nous proposons des generalisations anisotropes des champs 2D de type fractal. Tout d'abord, nous introduisons les champs 2D a accroissements stationnaires fractionnaires et nous montrons que le mouvement brownien fractionnaire appartient a cette classe de processus. L'interet d'une analyse multi resolution de ces champs est demontre theoriquement et sur un exemple d'application a la localisation sous-marine. Pour la modelisation de donnees, un moyen efficace pour caracteriser les textures a accroissements stationnaires est fourni par la fonction de structure. Nous soulignons la possibilite de controler l'anisotropie de ces champs par le biais de cette fonction, dont nous proposons egalement plusieurs modeles. La fonction de structure est aussi employee pour l'interpolation des champs non stationnaires a accroissements stationnaires. Un autre aspect de ce travail concerne les extensions bidimensionnelles des processus ARIMA fractionnaires et leurs liens avec les champs continus presentes. Finalement, nous considerons des processus auto-similaires non-gaussiens et etudions les statistiques de leurs coefficients d'ondelettes.
A Fast Look-ahead Heuristic for the Multi-depot Vehicle Routing Problem

The multi-depot vehicle routing problem (MDVRP) is a very challenging part of supply chain optimization. We propose here a simple yet powerful heuristic for the MDVRP with an integrated look-ahead. Compared to other state-of-the-art approaches, our heuristic is significantly faster, but yields competitive results and even found several new best solutions on a set of standard benchmark problems.
Limited Feedback Beamforming Systems for Dual-Polarized MIMO Channels

Dual-polarized multiple-input multiple-output (MI-MO) antenna systems, where the antennas are grouped in pairs of orthogonally polarized antennas, are a spatially-efficient alternative to single polarized MIMO antenna systems. A limited feedback beamforming technique is proposed for dual-polarized MIMO channels where the receiver has perfect channel knowledge but the transmitter only receives partial information regarding the channel instantiation. The system employs an effective signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) distortion minimizing codebook to convey channel state information (CSI) in the form of beamforming direction. By investigating the average SNR performance of this system, an upper bound on the average SNR distortion is found as a weighted sum of two beamforming distortion metrics. The distortion minimization problem is solved by designing a concatenated codebook. Finally, we propose a codebook switching scheme exploiting the cross-polar discrimination (XPD) statistics. Simulations show that the proposed codebook switching scheme with an XPD dependent concatenated codebook has the ability to adapt to dual-polarized channels.
Data driven analysis of functional brain networks in fMRI for schizophrenia investigation

The purpose of this article is to present a methodology to identify the sources of activity in brain networks from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data using the multiset canonical correlation analysis algorithm. The aim is to lay the foundations for a screening marker to be used as indicator of mental diseases. Group analysis blind source separation methods have proved reliable to extract the latent sources underlying the brain activities but currently there is no recognized biomarker for mental disorders. Recent studies have identified alterations in the so called default mode network (DMN) that are common to several neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. In particular, here we account for the hypothesis that the alterations in the DMN activity can be effectively highlighted by analyzing the transient states between two different tasks. A set of fMRI data acquired from 18 subjects performing working memory tasks is investigated for such purpose. Subjects are patients affected by schizophrenia for one half and healthy control subjects for the other. Under these conditions, the proposed methodology provides high discrimination performances in terms of classification error, thereby providing promising results for a preliminary tool able to monitor the disease state or to perform a prescreening for patients at risk for schizophrenia. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 24, 239–248, 2014
Boundary properties of the BCU method for power system transient stability assessment

The BCU method has been confirmed as an important on-line tool for direct transient stability assessment of power systems. The boundary property, which guarantees the controlling UEP of the original model and that of the reduced-state model, is a key issue in the BCU method. Instead of one-parameter transversality conditions proposed earlier, analytical results on the boundary property will be explored. We have applied the self-indexing energy function and the structural stability to analyze boundary properties of simple power systems. We have shown that, under certain mild conditions, the original system and the reduced-state system share the same UEPs on stability boundaries. Numerical studies confirm theoretical developments.
Origin and distribution of polyploid Achillea (Compositae) in western North America

The tetraploid and hexaploid cytotypes ofAchillea millefolium in western North America exhibit a complex distributional pattern involving overlapping ranges, mixed populations, and occasional pentaploid, septaploid, and octoploid plants. Cytogenetic and distributional evidence support the hypothesis that there has been a repeated autoploid origin of hexaploids from tetraploid progenitors. It is suggested that chromosome number differences should not be relied on as markers for infraspecific taxa in this complex.