Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Board Structure and Survival of New Economy IPO Firms

Research Question/Issue: This study examines the relevance of currently accepted best practice recommendations regarding board structure on the survival likelihood of new economy initial public offering companies. We argue that industry context determines governance outcomes. Research Findings/Insights: We study 125 Australian new economy firms listed between 1994 and 2002. Each firm is tracked until the end of 2007 for monitoring their survival. We find that board independence is associated with an increase in the likelihood of corporate survival. We also find that the benefits of board independence increase at a decreasing rate. Theoretical/Academic Implications: The standard best practice recommendation of board independence stems from the monitoring role of directors and is based on agency theory. The results from our study suggest that the recommendation regarding board independence does not work well for new economy firms. While the agency theory based model implies a monotonic relation between board independence and performance, our research suggests that the relationship is nonlinear. This variation occurs because of increased monitoring costs faced by outsiders due to higher information asymmetry and complexity of new economy firms. Our empirical results suggest that inside directors play a complementary role to outsiders in mitigating firm failure. Practitioner/Policy Implications: Our research offers insights to policy makers who are interested in setting best practice standards regarding board structure. Our research suggests that firm/industry characteristics play a crucial role in determining the optimal board structure. In firms/industries where outsiders face significantly higher information processing costs, insiders can play a valuable complementary role to outsiders in enhancing the effectiveness of the board. Thus future hard or soft regulations related to board structure should consider industry context.
Mutations of UFD1L are not responsible for the majority of cases of DiGeorge Syndrome/velocardiofacial syndrome without deletions within chromosome 22q11.

We would like to thank the families and clinicians who made the study possible. Support was from the Birth Defects Foundation and the British Heart Foundation (to P.J.S.), Telethon Foundation grant E. 723 (to B.D. and G.N.), and the Dutch Heart Foundation and the Sophia Foundation for Medical Research (to C.M.). We would like to thank Drs. Antonio Baldini and Elizabeth Lindsay for patient referrals, helpful discussion, and providing critical data prior to publication. Access to PCR conditions can be obtained at the e-mail addresses that follow: meijers@ch1.fgg. eur.nl (for C.M.), rwadey@hgmp.mrc. ac.uk (for R.W.), and novelli@utovrm.it (for G.N.).
Reducing Asymmetric Information in Venture Capital Backed IPOs

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to model asymmetric information and study the profitability of venture capital (VC) backed initial public offerings (IPOs). The mixtures approach endogenously separates IPOs into differentiated groups based on their returns’ determinants. The authors also analyze the factors that affect the probability that IPOs belong to a specific group. Design/methodology/approach – The authors propose a new method to model asymmetric information between investors and firms in VC backed IPOs. The approach allows the authors to identify differentiated companies under incomplete information. The authors use a sample of 2,404 US firms from 1980 through 2012 to estimate the mixture model via maximum likelihood. Findings – The authors find strong evidence that companies can be separated into two groups based on how IPO returns are determined. For companies in the first group the results are similar to previous studies. For companies in the second group the authors find that profitabili.
The development of Xavier university under the presidency of Norman C. Francis: 1968 - 2005

EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP MINOR, JR., CARLOS J. B.S. XAVIER UNIVERSITY, 1996 M.A. CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY, 2001 ED.S. CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY, 2009 THE DEVELOPMENT OF XAVIER UNIVERSITY UNDER THE PRESIDENCY OF NORMAN C. FRANCIS: 1968-2005 Committee Chair: Dr. Trevor Turner Dissertation dated May 2011 This study examines the factors that led Xavier University from a small, struggling, regional entity to a national university. This growth did not take place until Norman C. Francis was appointed president in 1968. This study was based on the premise that from the time Xavier University was founded in 1915 until Norman C. Francis became president in 1968, the university relatively stagnant in terms of growth. A case study analysis approach was used to analyze data gathered on the growth of the university. Specifically, the following areas were examined: enrollment, endowment, physical plant, alumni advanced degree attainment, faculty quality, quality of students admitted and retained, and the condition of the university prior to the Francis administration. The researcher found that Xavier University has experienced significant growth in the areas examined. The conclusions drawn from the findings suggest that the leadership of Norman C. Francis was the catalyst that caused the positive changes in Xavier University found by the researcher. THE DEVELOPMENT OF XAVIER UNIVERSITY UNDER THE PRESIDENCY OF NORMAN C. FRANCIS: 1968-2005
Out-Migration of Young Adults and Gender Division of Intergenerational Support in Rural China

Using data from the baseline and follow-up surveys of Well-Being of Elderly in Anhui Province, China, conducted in 2001, 2003, and 2006 by the Institute for Population and Development Studies of Xi’an Jiaotong University, the authors use random-effects models to explore the gender division of intergenerational support of the elderly in rural families. Analyses by parents’ and children’s gender suggest that there are gender differences in intergenerational support because of gender roles and divisions in families. The analysis shows that older mothers receive more returns, which reciprocates their support, while older fathers benefit more from the out-migration of adult children. Although sons take more responsibility for family support, daughters reciprocate support from their elderly parents more. Enhancement of the role and function of daughters in families has accompanied the out-migration of young adults and suggests that gender differences in intergenerational support between sons and daughters have decreased.
Uric acid lowering therapy: prescribing patterns in a large cohort of older adults

Background: Uric acid lowering therapy (UALT) is considered a chronic treatment for gout. Relatively little is known about adherence to UALT. Methods: We assessed adherence with UALT over a 1-year study period among 9823 older adults enrolled in a pharmacy benefit program. Two adherence measures were calculated, the percentage of days covered (PDC) and the time until an extended break (at least 60 days) in treatment. A PDC <80% was considered poor adherence and its predictors were examined in multivariable logistic models. Results: The mean (SD) PDC was 54% (36%) with 64% of patients considered poorly compliant over the study period. A total of 56% had experienced an extended break in UALT. Predictors of poor adherence included younger age (odds ratio (OR) 1.50, 95% CI 1.33–1.69 for ages 65–74 compared with 85 and above) and African–American race (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.52–2.27 compared with Caucasian race). Most patients (93%) received their initial UALT prescription from a non-specialist and this also predicted poor adherence (OR 1.15, 95% CI 0.96–1.38 compared with rheumatologists or nephrologists). Conclusion Adherence with UALT is poor. While uric acid levels were not measured in this study, poor adherence with UALT is likely to reduce attainment of goal uric acid levels.
Characterization of the Skin Penetration of a Hydrocarbon-Based Weapons Maintenance Oil

Break-Free CLP is a commercial petroleum-based liquid used for cleaning, lubricating, and protecting firearms that is used in the United States by military personnel, police, and individual gun owners for maintaining a wide variety of firearms. According to its material safety data sheet (MSDS), Break-Free CLP is predominately polyalphaolefin oil but also contains dibasic ester and isoparaffinic hydrocarbons; all of these ingredients are known to induce skin irritation in laboratory animals. Studies completed in our labs found that repeated topical application of Break-Free CLP to the backs of CD-1 mice produced evidence of systemic effects. Studies were conducted to characterize the dermal penetration of Break-Free CLP in mouse, rat, and pig skin to provide insight on possible factors or causes of skin irritation and systemic effects observed in previous studies. Mouse skin was 37 times more permeable to Break-Free CLP than pig skin and 6 times more permeable than rat skin. Flux measurements from static diffusion cells showed an inverse correlation with mouse, rat, and pig skin thickness. The concentration of Break-Free CLP in mouse skin was 4.5 times higher than the amount found in rat skin and about 17 times higher than the amount absorbed by pig skin. These results support the idea that Break-Free CLP causes skin irritation and systemic effects in the mouse by both penetrating through and accumulating in the skin. The findings for rat and pig skin are probably most representative of Break-Free CLP flux into and through unprotected human skin and suggest that dermal toxicity studies in CD-1 mice overestimate the risk to humans. These results, nevertheless, suggest that persons handling or using Break-Free CLP should protect the skin from possible exposure.
EcoK selection vectors for shotgun cloning into M13 and deletion mutagenesis.

For shotgun cloning into M13 vectors, a double-stranded cassette of synthetic oligonucleotides containing a SmaI site within the two halves of an EcoK site, has been introduced into the vector M13mp8. Cloning of blunt end DNA into the SmaI site destroys the EcoK site, and recombinants are therefore preferentially selected on transfection into a K strain of E.coli. For deletion mutagenesis using synthetic oligonucleotides, an M13 vector with four copies of the EcoK cassette has been made to facilitate the joining of lacZ or a Factor Xa cleavage site to any protein reading frame.
In Vivo Constriction of the Fetal and Neonatal Ductus Arteriosus by a Prostanoid EP4-Receptor Antagonist in Rats

Indomethacin is used to constrict the patent ductus arteriosus in premature infants. To clarify possible prostanoid receptor antagonists that can constrict the ductus, we studied in vivo constriction of the fetal and neonatal ductus arteriosus by AE3-208, a prostanoid EP4-receptor antagonist, in rats. Following quick cesarean section of near-term pregnant rats (21 d), neonates were incubated in room air at 33°C. The inner diameter of the ductus was measured with a microscope and a micrometer following rapid whole-body freezing of the fetus and neonate, and sectioning of the thorax in the frontal plane on a freezing microtome. In the control, the ductus arteriosus constricted quickly after birth, and the inner diameter was 0.80 mm in the fetus and 0.06 mm at 90 min after birth. AE3-208, administered orogastrically to the dam, constricted the fetal ductus dose dependently. Maximal ductal constriction was observed 4 h after administration, and the ductal diameters were 0.06 mm and 0.26 mm after administration of 10 mg/kg and 10 ng/kg of AE3-208, respectively. In neonatal rats, AE3-208 injected subcutaneously at 30 min after birth, inhibited dilatation of the ductus by PGE1 dose dependently. PGE1 (10 μg/kg) was injected subcutaneously to the 1-h-old neonatal rat, and the ductal diameters were 0.53 mm and 0.19 mm without and with pretreatment of AE3-208 (10 μg/kg), respectively. These results indicate the major role of EP4 in the fetal and neonatal ductus and show that an EP4 antagonist can be used to constrict the patent ductus of premature infants.
Relationship between European corn borer feeding activity and nitrogen leaf content under different agricultural practices

One of the most destructive maize pest in Croatia is European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hubner) (ECB). The aim of this study was to determine the influence of irrigation, nitrogen fertilization, different maize genotypes and nitrogen leaf content on ECB feeding activity. The experiment was set up in Osijek, Croatia under field conditions during 2012-2013 vegetation season. Experiment treatments were as follows: three irrigation levels (A1 - control, A2 from 60% to 80% field water capacity - FWC and A3 from 80% to100% FWC), three nitrogen fertilizer levels (B1 - 0, B2 - 100 and B3 - 200 kg N/ha) and four different genotypes (C1 - OSSK 596 ; C2 - OSSK 617 ; C3 - OSSK 602 and C4 - OSSK 552). Ear weight, number of larvae in stem and shank, tunnel length and nitrogen leaf content were evaluated. Genotype C1 was the most susceptible for following the tested variables of ECB feeding: tunnel length (TL), larvae in stalk (LS) and total number of larvae (TNL) at P<0.05 probability level. By raising the level of irrigation, European corn borer feeding activity was reduced while by raising the level of nitrogen fertilization feeding activity was increased. These results suggest that good production practices can significantly affect the susceptibility of maize to European corn borer.
[New treatment option for gram-positive infections in critically ill patients - overview over linezolid].

INTRODUCTION During the last decade, there has been an emergence of multiresistant Gram-positive bacteria in intensive care units. Oxazolidinones are a new class of antibiotics without cross-resistance to other antimicrobial agents, and linezolid was recently introduced as first oxazolidinone on the German market. In this overview, we summarize important data and discuss possible indications for linezolid in the treatment of infections in critically ill patients. ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY AND PHARMACOLOGY: The antimicrobial spectrum comprises mainly Gram-positive bacteria, especially Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA), coagulase-negative staphylococci, enterococci, and streptococci. Linezolid is mostly bacteriostatic and inhibits the bacterial protein synthesis at an early stage. Adults may receive 600 mg b.i. d. intravenously or p. o. About 30 % of the dose are excreted by the kidneys as mother compound and 50 % as metabolites. Dosage reductions are not necessary, even in severe renal impairment, but about one third of the dose is eliminated during dialysis. Overall, linezolid is well tolerated, but approximately 5 % of the patients may suffer from diarrhea or nausea and there have been a few reports about reversible myelosuppressive side effects. CLINICAL STUDIES Linezolid has been compared to vancomycin for treatment of Gram-positive nosocomial pneumonia, and the clinical cure rates were 66.4 % and 68.1 %, respectively. Linezolid is highly active and bactericidal against pneumococci. The clinical cure rates for treatment of skin and soft tissue infections were 88.1 % with linezolid and 86.1 % with penicillinase-stable penicillins. MRSA were excluded in this study, but it may be assumed from data in vitro that linezolid is equally effective against these bacteria. Data for the treatment of catheter-associated and other forms of bacteremias are mainly derived from the compassionate-use-program, where linezolid has been used in complicated cases, mainly after failure of standard therapy. The majority of infections was caused by multiresistant Enterococcus faecium and the clinical cure rates were approximately 80 %. COMMENT The currently available data suggest that linezolid will serve as useful agent in the treatment of severe infections caused by multiresistant staphylococci and enterococci. Further studies are necessary to define the role of linezolid as first-line agent, e. g. in the treatment of central venous catheter infections. In light of the severe prognosis of pneumonias caused by MRSA, studies on the combination of linezolid and vancomycin are warranted. Despite the low level of resistance, it seems prudent not to use linezolid as first line agent in the treatment of uncomplicated infections, as long as effective standard antibiotics are available.
RhoA/ROCK Signaling Suppresses Hypertrophic Chondrocyte Differentiation*

Coordinated proliferation and differentiation of growth plate chondrocytes is required for normal growth and development of the endochondral skeleton, but little is known about the intracellular signal transduction pathways regulating these processes. We have investigated the roles of the GTPase RhoA and its effector kinases ROCK1/2 in hypertrophic chondrocyte differentiation. RhoA, ROCK1, and ROCK2 are expressed throughout chondrogenic differentiation. RhoA overexpression in chondrogenic ATDC5 cells results in increased proliferation and a marked delay of hypertrophic differentiation, as shown by decreased induction of alkaline phosphatase activity, mineralization, and expression of the hypertrophic markers collagen X, bone sialoprotein, and matrix metalloproteinase 13. These effects are accompanied by activation of cyclin D1 transcription and repression of the collagen X promoter by RhoA. In contrast, inhibition of Rho/ROCK signaling by the pharmacological inhibitor Y27632 inhibits chondrocyte proliferation and accelerates hypertrophic differentiation. Dominant-negative RhoA also inhibits induction of the cyclin D1 promoter by parathyroid hormone-related peptide. Finally, Y27632 treatment partially rescues the effects of RhoA overexpression. In summary, we identify the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway as a novel and important regulator of chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation.
Impulsive personality and the ability to resist immediate reward: An fMRI study examining interindividual differences in the neural mechanisms underlying self‐control

The ability to resist immediate rewards is crucial for lifetime success and individual well‐being. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we assessed the association between trait impulsivity and the neural underpinnings of the ability to control immediate reward desiring. Low and high extreme impulsivity groups were compared with regard to their behavioral performance and brain activation in situations, in which they had to forego immediate rewards with varying value to achieve a superordinate long‐term goal. We found that highly impulsive (HI) individuals, who successfully compensated for their lack in behavioral self‐control, engaged two complementary brain mechanisms when choosing actions in favor of a long‐term goal, but at the expense of an immediate reward. First, self‐controlled decisions led to a general attenuation of reward‐related activation in the nucleus accumbens, which was accompanied by an increased inverse connectivity with the anteroventral prefrontal cortex. Second, HI subjects controlled their desire for increasingly valuable, but suboptimal rewards through a linear reduction of activation in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC). This was achieved by an increased inverse coupling between the VMPFC and the ventral striatum. Importantly, the neural mechanisms observed in the HI group differed from those in extremely controlled individuals, despite similar behavioral performance. Collectively, these results suggest trait‐specific neural mechanisms that allow HI individuals to control their desire for immediate reward. Hum Brain Mapp, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ulcerative colitis: current pharmacotherapy and future directions

Introduction: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic relapsing disease, characterised by alternating of acute and remission phases. Although the aetiology is unknown, in recent years, there has progressively been greater knowledge of the various pathogenetic mechanisms underlying the disease itself. Thus, from therapy based on generically anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive agents, treatment is gradually moving towards drugs that selectively block specific inflammatory mediators, such as TNF-α. Areas covered: This review provides the most significant data about the therapeutic role of different drugs currently available for the treatment of UC. In addition, the critical therapeutic areas on which research could focus in the near future are discussed. Expert opinion: UC is a disease affecting young patients, whose quality of life may be strongly compromised by the progression of disease. Over time, the disease may lead to an impairment of the normal anatomy and physiology of the colon, and the cumulative incidence of dysplasia and colorectal cancer increases with the time. Thus, the main aims of the near future should be both a better definition of patients at risk for a poor clinical course and progression of disease, and the development of a much more aggressive treatment for patients with a poor prognosis.
Robust H∞ fault diagnosis for multi-model descriptor systems: A multi-objective approach

A large class of engineering systems are modeled by coupled Differential and algebraic Equations (DAEs), called also singular or descriptor systems. Due to the singular nature of the algebraic equations, descriptor systems do not satisfy the standard state-space description and require special techniques. So far, the literature has concentrated mostly on the numerical analysis and control aspects of descriptor or DAEs systems. This paper investigates the problem of faults detection in nonlinear DAE systems described by a multi-model with the design of an Unknown Input Observer. The stability and robustness properties of the fault diagnosis scheme are investigated in term of LMIs. A simulation example illustrating the ability of the proposed fault diagnosis architecture to detect multiple faults is presented.
Single- and double-stranded DNA: building a trigger of ATR-mediated DNA damage response.

The DNA damage signaling pathways mediated by the ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and the ATM and Rad3-related (ATR) kinases play crucial roles in the maintenance of genomic integrity and may function as an anti-cancer barrier during early tumorigenesis. Although the ATM and ATR pathways share some of their downstream functions, the DNA damage that evoke these two pathways are distinct. While ATM plays a primary role in the response to double-stranded DNA breaks (DSBs), ATR controls the response to a much broader spectrum of DNA damage, including many that interfere with DNA replication. And, unlike ATM, ATR is crucial for maintaining genomic integrity during S phase of the cell cycle, and is indispensable for cell survival. Clearly, revealing the DNA structure that elicits the ATR pathway would be a critical step toward understanding the essential function of ATR and the genomic instability that it counters. The versatility of the ATR pathway in DNA damage response suggests that this pathway is likely able to sense a common signal generated by different types of DNA damage and genomic instability. Two simple structures commonly generated at sites of DNA repair and stressed DNA replication forks are single-stranded DNA coated with replication protein A (RPA-ssDNA) and junctions of singleand doublestranded DNA. Both of these structures have been implicated in the activation of ATR checkpoint by a number of studies using different model organisms. In this issue of Genes & Development, Cimprich and colleagues (MacDougall et al. 2007) report that circular singlestranded DNA (ssDNA) annealed with primers specifically triggers the ATR-mediated checkpoint responses in Xenopus egg extracts, revealing the first defined DNA structure sufficient to activate the ATR checkpoint pathway.