Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Free cash flow and corporate profitability in emerging economies: Empirical evidence from Vietnam

This paper examined the relationship between free cash flow and corporate profitability of Vietnamese listed firms. Basing on the agency theory of free cash flow, several previous studies proposed a negative relationship between free cash flow and corporate profitability. In this study, we argue that the presence of information asymmetry in the financial market of developing economies may limit the access to external sources of finance. Thus, free cash flow may serve as a cheaper alternative source of finance. This benefit may reduce, nullified, or even outweigh the agency cost caused by excess free cash flow. The empirical analysis results basing on a sample of 208 Vietnamese listed non-financial firms in the period from 2012 to 2016 showed that free cash flow seems to have a positive effect on the corporate profitability of Vietnamese listed firms.
HIV-1 Gag-specific immunity induced by a lentivector-based vaccine directed to dendritic cells

Lentivectors (LVs) have attracted considerable interest for their potential as a vaccine delivery vehicle. In this study, we evaluate in mice a dendritic cell (DC)-directed LV system encoding the Gag protein of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (LV-Gag) as a potential vaccine for inducing an anti-HIV immune response. The DC-directed specificity is achieved through pseudotyping the vector with an engineered Sindbis virus glycoprotein capable of selectively binding to the DC-SIGN protein. A single immunization by this vector induces a durable HIV Gag-specific immune response. We investigated the antigen-specific immunity and T-cell memory generated by a prime/boost vaccine regimen delivered by either successive LV-Gag injections or a DNA prime/LV-Gag boost protocol. We found that both prime/boost regimens significantly enhance cellular and humoral immune responses. Importantly, a heterologous DNA prime/LV-Gag boost regimen results in superior Gag-specific T-cell responses as compared with a DNA prime/adenovector boost immunization. It induces not only a higher magnitude response, as measured by Gag-specific tetramer analysis and intracellular IFN-γ staining, but also a better quality of response evidenced by a wider mix of cytokines produced by the Gag-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. A boosting immunization with LV-Gag also generates T cells reactive to a broader range of Gag-derived epitopes. These results demonstrate that this DC-directed LV immunization is a potent modality for eliciting anti-HIV immune responses.
Therapies on the horizon for Clostridium difficile infections

ABSTRACT Introduction: Clostridium difficile infections are a leading cause of healthcare facility outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness that may have serious complications and a high rate of recurrent disease. Despite the availability of standard antibiotic treatments, data from national surveillance programs indicate that the incidence of this disease continues to increase, placing a heavy burden on healthcare systems. New emerging strategies are being tested to replace or augment these standard antibiotics. Areas covered: Thirty-two current investigational agents focusing on different strategies for both prevention and treatment of C. difficile infections are reviewed. Data was gathered from a literature search of public databases for published trials from 1999-November 13, 2015 and from the author’s compendium of knowledge. Agents reviewed included 13 antibiotics, two antibiotic inactivators, seven bacteria or yeasts acting to enhance the normal microbiome, seven immunizing agents and three toxin binders. Of the 32 investigational treatments reviewed, 8 (25%) showed significant efficacy in phase II or III clinical trials and are actively being developed as new therapies for C. difficile infections. Expert opinion: A number of potential treatments have floundered during their development process, while others have shown promising results. The strongest efficacy has been in the areas of newer antibiotics, probiotics, monoclonal antibodies and vaccines. By targeting the pathogenic pathway of C. difficile infections, multiple strategies for prevention and treatment have been developed.
Diminished frequency and function of CD4+CD25high regulatory T cells associated with active uveitis in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome.

PURPOSE CD4(+)CD25(high) regulatory T (Treg) cells have been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome is an organ-specific autoimmune disease. This study was designed to phenotypically and functionally characterize peripheral blood CD4(+)CD25(high) Treg cells in VKH patients with active uveitis. METHODS Blood samples were taken from 30 patients with active VKH, 19 patients with inactive VKH, and 26 healthy controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were subjected to flow cytometry for analysis of phenotypes of the CD4(+)CD25(high) Treg cells. For functional analysis, CD4(+)CD25(high) Treg cells and CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells were separated by means of magnetic-assisted cell sorting and subsequently cocultured for 6 days. The proliferation of CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells was measured by [(3)H] thymidine incorporation assay. The levels of IFN-gamma, IL-17, and IL-13 in the supernatants were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS Significantly decreased frequencies of CD4(+)CD25(high) Treg cells and percentages of FOXP3(+) cells in these Treg cells were shown in patients with active VKH. Treg cells from patients with active VKH showed a significant deficiency in suppressing the proliferation of CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells and inhibiting the production of IFN-gamma and IL-13 by CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells. CD4(+)CD25(high) Treg cells from VKH patients or healthy controls did not markedly inhibit or promote IL-17 production. CONCLUSIONS A significantly decreased frequency and diminished function of CD4(+)CD25(high) Treg cells is associated with active uveitis in patients with VKH syndrome. These results suggest that these dysfunctional CD4(+)CD25(high) Treg cells may play a role in the pathogenesis of uveitis in VKH syndrome.
Feeling at risk: How women interpret their familial breast cancer risk

Women's inaccuracy in recalling their breast cancer risk, even immediately after genetic counseling, has received much attention. However, scarce data are available about how women describe their risk in their own words and about what the risk information actually means to them. The present study aims to address interpretations questions and to assess whether these are congruent with the objective risk. Face‐to‐face interviews were conducted with 123 women immediately after their (initial) counseling session. N‐Vivo software was used to describe the data. The level of accuracy of recall depended strongly on the leniency of the criterion applied. For example, the level of verbal accuracy ranged from 25.8% (an exact match with the verbal label) to 98.4% (a more global awareness of having a high versus a low risk). In assessing the significance of personal risk information, we identified a wide variety of risk beliefs, and stress and coping responses. In general, women associated their risk with the medical options, for example, breast screening, that were available for them given their risk status. The results indicate that the accuracy of recall might be a limited outcome measure for the effectiveness of genetic counseling. First, this is because the level of accuracy of recall depends on how rigorously accuracy is defined. Secondly, because the probability of occurrence is just one of the elements comprising perceived risk, accuracy might rather apply to the distress, and to risk management behaviors that are elicited by the risk information. These beliefs that women hold about their risk status, and concomitant levels of stress should play a prominent role in genetic counseling. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Violence, Job Satisfaction, and Employment Intentions Among Home Healthcare Registered Nurses

Workplace violence, defined as violent acts directed toward workers, includes physical assault, threat of assault, and verbal abuse (Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA], 2004) and is widely recognized as a threat to workers' health and safety. Healthcare workers, especially nurses, are known to be at high risk (Duhart, 2001). As employees who work alone, have access to drugs, provide care to people in distress, and/or have frequent close contact with clients, they face a greater likelihood of exposure to violence (Chappell & Di Martino, 2000). Nurses' risk has been correlated with degree of patient contact; the odds of physical violence are 7.2 and 9.0 times greater for healthcare workers with moderate and high patient contact, respectively, compared with those with little or no contact (Findorff et al., 2004).
Leadership Traits, Divergent Thinking, and Innovation in Higher Education.

The topic of leadership is critical today as leaders’ decision-making processes affect political, social, and economic conditions globally. Considering market fluctuations and shifts, political uncertainty, environmental threats, and global societal issues, the question of leadership is at the heart of issues faced today as leaders impact people at all levels of society. The discussion regarding leadership has centered on the need for high-level critical and creative thinkers and has shifted towards academia as a source for innovation. Educational institutions are under a high level of scrutiny and pressure to prepare graduates effectively for a volatile and unpredictable global market, yet the educational model has been slow to change and adapt to market conditions. This study identified the relationship between the institutional environment, leader’s traits, and divergent thinking to provide insight into the characteristics that drive innovation in the academic setting. The research involved a large-scale national study of college and university leaders and focused on leadership traits, divergent thinking, and innovation. Findings indicated negative relationships between the demographic attributes of gender and level of education, and innovation. Leaders with the traits of “Conscientiousness” and “Lack of Emotional Stability” negatively impacted innovation and institutional characteristics of location and type negatively affected organizational creativity. There was a significantly positive relationship between the institutional environment and three measured levels of innovation.
Unit Sales and Price Eﬀects of Pre-announced Consumption Tax Reforms: Micro-level Evidence from European VAT

This paper studies the effects of consumption tax reforms on prices and the time path of consumption spending in EU countries utilizing micro-level data on the monthly unit sales and prices of consumer durables. The identification strategy exploits the trading of identical products in multiple countries. The results show that tax-rate changes are fully and quickly shifted into prices and strongly affect the time path of consumption. The empirical findings for consumption spending indicate that tax rate changes exert temporary effects shortly before implementation, which are more than reverted after implementation. Quantitatively, we find that sales increase by about 2.5% in the last month before and drop by almost 5% after implementation if the tax rate increases by one percentage point.
Pulmonary function response to equivalent doses of ozone consequent to intermittent and continuous exercise.

The effects on pulmonary function of inhaling the same effective dose of ozone, as well as subjective responses during continuous exercise and intermittent exercise, were studied in 12 aerobically trained men. Each subject completed 1 h of continuous exercise at work rates that elicited a mean minute ventilation of 60 l/min, and two additional 2-h intermittent exercise exposures eliciting a mean exercise minute ventilation of 45-47 l/min (i.e., total minute ventilation for each protocol was approximately 3,600 l). Subjects were exposed in randomized sequence to 0.30 ppm ozone on three occasions and to filtered air on three occasions. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s decrements of -17.6%, -17.0%, and -17.9%, respectively, for the 1-h continuous exercise exposure and the two 2-h intermittent exercise exposures to 0.30 ppm ozone were significantly different. Exposure to ozone caused significant differences between postexposure subjective symptom responses; that is, responses associated with continuous exercise were greater than those for either intermittent exercise protocol. However, the overall symptom severity responses during the last minute of exercise for the two intermittent exercise protocols (at 90 and 105 min, respectively) were not significantly different from the continuous exercise postexposure value. The findings indicate that when the ozone effective dose is equivalent at a given ozone concentration, there is no difference between pulmonary function responses to continuous exercise or intermittent exercise exposures of 2-h duration (or less), although subjective symptoms are reduced somewhat during the last rest period of intermittent exercise.
Ozone Production by Streamer Discharges Using Nanosecond Pulsed Powers and Coaxial Reactor With Tensioned Inner Electrode

The ozone production was studied using nanosecond pulsed-power systems and a coaxial reactor. Concentration of produced ozone decreased temporally when spark discharges were observed in the coaxial reactor due to curved inner wire electrode. At the same time, the reactor voltage fell down. In order to solve this problem, the tensioned inner wire electrode was adopted to be constant of electrode separation. As a result, the ozone concentration did not decrease and was kept as the peak concentration during pulse application. It was suggested that streamer discharges occurred stably due to restraining spark discharges caused by curve of inner wire electrode. Then, the ozone production efficiencies became constant on energy density because ozone concentrations increased proportionally with increasing energy density. Therefore, in order to obtain higher ozone concentration and stable ozone production, tensioned inner wire electrode of coaxial reactor was required.
Compact Planar Loop–Dipole Composite Antenna With Director for Bandwidth Enhancement and Back Radiation Suppression

A wideband and unidirectional loop-dipole composite antenna with a planar structure is proposed. The antenna includes a half-wavelength dipole and a one-wavelength loop that are printed on different sides of a substrate. To control the radiation characteristics of each element separately, the dipole is fed using a coaxial cable, whereas the loop is fed using offset broad-side coupling. To overcome the low front-to-back ratio (FBR) at lower and upper frequencies of the band, where the loop-dipole mode is not dominant, while maintaining a compact size, a parasitic strip is located in the vicinity of the loop. The strip acts as a director for the dipole at the low frequencies and for the loop at the high frequencies and thus significantly improves the FBR at those frequencies. The antenna achieves a wide fractional operating bandwidth of 49% at 0.7-1.15 GHz, a size reduction of more than 50% compared with recent similar designs, stable gain with a peak value of 4.8 dBi, and a minimum FBR of 11 dB across the operating bandwidth. Owing to its compact and planar structure, lightweight, simple fabrication, and stable radiation characteristic, it can be utilized in various wireless applications operating at the ultrahigh-frequency band.
Analysis of Factors that Influence Dividend Payout Ratio of Coal Companies in Indonesia Stock Exchange

The purpose of this study is to analyze the company’s internal and macroeconomic conditions on the ratio of dividend distribution, as well as knowing the conditions of coal companies on the IDX during the decline in coal prices. The weakening of the global economy has resulted in a decline in various commodity prices, including coal prices. Various studies were conducted to determine the factors that influence the poor condition of sectoral mining indices in these weakening conditions a few years ago. The coal subsector has the largest capitalization in the mining sector. Multiple regression models are used to analyze 55 samples from 11 coal subsector companies. The research period was carried out from 2013 to 2017. The results showed that return on assets, exchange rates, world oil prices had a positive and significant partial effect on the dividend payout ratio of the coal subsector. The implications of the findings are management of coal subsector company needs to pay attention to internal and external factors so that they can distribute dividends regularly.
Unraveling the 10 Micron “Silicate” Feature of Protostars: The Detection of Frozen Interstellar Ammonia

We present infrared spectra of four embedded protostars in the 750-1230 cm-1 (13.3-8.1 μm) range. For NGC 7538 IRS 9, a new band is reported at 1110 cm-1 (9.01 μm), and several others may be present near 785, 820, 900, 1030, and 1075 cm-1 (12.7, 12.2, 11.1, 9.71, and 9.30 μm). The band at 1110 cm-1 is attributed to frozen NH3. Its position and width imply that the NH3 is frozen in a polar, H2O-rich interstellar ice component. The NH3/H2O ice ratio inferred for NGC 7538 IRS 9 is 0.1, making NH3 as important a component as CH3OH and CO2 in the polar ices along this line of sight. At these concentrations, hydrogen bonding between the NH3 and H2O can account for much of the enigmatic low-frequency wing on the 3240 cm-1 (3.09 μm) H2O interstellar ice band. The strength of the implied NH3 deformation fundamental at 1624 cm-1 (6.158 μm) can also account for the absorption at this position reported by ISO.
Evaluating the Bank of Canada Staff Economic Projections Using a New Database of Real-Time Data and Forecasts

We present a novel database of real-time data and forecasts from the Bank of Canada’s staff economic projections. We then provide a forecast evaluation for GDP growth and CPI inflation since 1982: we compare the staff forecasts with those from commonly used time-series models estimated with real-time data and with forecasts from other professional forecasters and provide standard bias tests.
Patterns in sustainable relationships between buyers and suppliers: evidence from the food and beverage industry

Although research on sustainable procurement is increasing, little empirical research has been done on how sustainable procurement is established between companies. Therefore, drawing on supply chain management and purchasing management literature, this study explores how food industries manage sustainable supplier relationships. Through the identification of company clusters with typical sustainable procurement approaches, the paper contributes to the supply chain management literature. A questionnaire is applied to gather data amongst Dutch Food and Beverage companies from which 62 could be used for the analyses (effective response rate 28.9%). Cluster analysis revealed four types of companies with distinctive sustainable procurement relationships: market relationships (arms-length), sustainability leader, one-sided sustainability (interested supplier but less interested buyer), and inconclusive sustainability (buyer and suppliers only made a start). As the implementation of sustainable procurement remains low in practice, insights from this study are important for managers.
Circulating Toll‐like receptor (TLR) 2, TLR4, and regulatory T cells in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Wang J‐P, Zhang Y, Wei X, Li J, Nan X‐P, Yu H‐T, Li Y, Wang P‐Z, Bai X‐F. Circulating Toll‐like receptor (TLR) 2, TLR4, and regulatory T cells in patients with chronic hepatitis C. APMIS 2010; 118: 261–70.
Stress amongst primary dental care patients.

AIMS to determine the prevalence of dental fear amongst primary dental care units (PDCU) patients and to characterize them according to socio-demographic features. STUDY DESIGN non-probabilistic sampling on new and consecutive patients demanding exodontia at the Burela, Praza do Ferrol and Viveiro (Lugo) PDCUs from 9 january to 7 march and from 18 june to 21 september 2007. The variables considered were "demographic" (age, gender, address and educational level), "treatment-related" (reason for extraction, root extraction), "attitudes" (accompanied yes/no, spontaneous fear comments yes/no) and "stress" determined using a visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS A total of 804 patients entered the study. The mean VAS value was 3.54+/-2.63 (range 0 to 10; median 2.95; mode 0). A 96.8% referred some degree of stress, and a 10.1% of the sample scored high values (>7.5 in the scale). These values resulted to be influenced by sex (p=0.000), address (p=0.025) and by the presence of an accompanying person in the room (p=0.008). Logistic regression analysis identifies female gender (OR=3.26; 95%CI: 1.93 , 5.49), urban (OR=2.02 95%CI: 1.04 , 3.91) or rural (OR=2.16; 95%CI: 1.15 , 4.08) address and the absence of an accompanying person in the room (OR=1.68; 95%CI: 1.05 , 2.70) as predictors for a high level of stress. CONCLUSION A 10.1% of the patients experience a high level of stress before tooth extraction. This phenomenon is more common among unaccompanied women from rural or urban areas.
Sterol regulatory element‐binding protein‐1c knockdown protected INS‐1E cells from lipotoxicity

Objective: The reduction in insulin secretory capacity and β‐cell mass has been attributed, at least partially, to lipotoxicity, which may contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes. Chronic free fatty acids (FFA) exposure impairs pancreatic β‐cell function and induces β‐cell apoptosis. This study is to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms.
Efficacy of Maxillomandibular Advancement Examined with Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy and Computational Fluid Dynamics Airflow Modeling

Objectives To use drug-induced sedation endoscopy (DISE) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling to study dynamic airway and airflow changes after maxillomandibular advancement (MMA), and how the changes correlate with surgical success based on polysomnography parameters. Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting University medical center. Methods DISE was rated with the VOTE (velum, oropharynx, tongue, epiglottis) classification, and CFD was used to model airflow velocity and negative pressure exerted on pharyngeal wall. Changes in VOTE score by site and CFD measurements were correlated with perioperative polysomnography outcomes of apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), apnea index (AI), oxygenation desaturation index (ODI), and lowest oxygen saturation. Results After MMA, 20 subjects (17 males, 3 females) with a mean age of 44 ± 12 years and body mass index of 27.4 ± 4.6 kg/m2 showed mean decreases in AHI (53.6 ± 26.6 to 9.5 ± 7.4 events/h) and ODI (38.7 ± 30.3 to 8.1 ± 9.2 events/h; P < .001). Improvement in lateral pharyngeal wall collapse during DISE based on VOTE score correlated with the most decrease in AHI (60.0 ± 25.6 to 7.5 ± 3.4 events/h) and ODI (46.7 ± 29.8 to 5.3 ± 2 events/h; P = .002). CFD modeling showed significant positive Pearson correlations between reduction of retropalatal airflow velocity and AHI (r = 0.617, P = .04) and ODI (r = 0.773, P = .005). Conclusion AHI and ODI improvement after MMA is best correlated with (1) decreased retropalatal airflow velocity modeled by CFD and (2) increased lateral pharyngeal wall stability based on VOTE scoring from DISE.