Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does Family Control Matter? International Evidence from the 2008-2009 Financial Crisis

We study whether and how family control affects valuation and corporate decisions during the 2008-2009 financial crisis using a sample of more than 8,500 firms from 35 countries. We find that family-controlled firms underperform significantly, they cut investment more relative to other firms, and these investment cuts are associated with greater underperformance. Further, we find that within family groups liquidity shocks are passed on through investment cuts across the group. Our evidence is consistent with families taking actions to increase the likelihood that the firms under their control, and their control benefits, survive the crisis, at the expense of outside shareholders.
Do Banks and Microfinance Institutions Compete? Microevidence from Madagascar

This paper examines whether the loan strategy of a microfinance institution (MFI) is shaped by the entry of a bank. Specifically, we investigate whether the distance between a borrower of an MFI and the closest bank influences loan conditions provided by the MFI. We use an original panel data set of 32,374 loans granted to 14,834 borrowers provided by one of the largest MFIs in Madagascar between 2008 and 2014. We find that the closer a bank is located to a given MFI borrower, the larger the loan obtained and the less collateral required. We also find that the effect is stronger for clients that could be more easily caught by banks (i.e., large firms and clients without a previous relationship with the MFI).
International Agricultural Trade Research Consortium Has the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture Worked Well ? by

The International Agricultural Trade Research Consortium is an informal association of University and Government economists interested in agricultural trade. Its purpose is to foster interaction, improve research capacity and to focus on relevant trade policy issues. It is financed by United States Department of Agriculture (ERS, and FAS), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the participating institutions.
Combining Continuous Smartphone Native Sensors Data Capture and Unsupervised Data Mining Techniques for Behavioral Changes Detection: A Case Series of the Evidence-Based Behavior (eB2) Study

Background The emergence of smartphones, wearable sensor technologies, and smart homes allows the nonintrusive collection of activity data. Thus, health-related events, such as activities of daily living (ADLs; eg, mobility patterns, feeding, sleeping, .) can be captured without patients’ active participation. We designed a system to detect changes in the mobility patterns based on the smartphone’s native sensors and advanced machine learning and signal processing techniques. Objective The principal objective of this work is to assess the feasibility of detecting mobility pattern changes in a sample of outpatients with depression using the smartphone’s sensors. The proposed method processed the data acquired by the smartphone using an unsupervised detection technique. Methods In this study, 38 outpatients from the Hospital Fundación Jiménez Díaz Psychiatry Department (Madrid, Spain) participated. The Evidence-Based Behavior (eB2) app was downloaded by patients on the day of recruitment and configured with the assistance of a physician. The app captured the following data: inertial sensors, physical activity, phone calls and message logs, app usage, nearby Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections, and location. We applied a change-point detection technique to location data on a sample of 9 outpatients recruited between April 6, 2017 and December 14, 2017. The change-point detection was based only on location information, but the eB2 platform allowed for an easy integration of additional data. The app remained running in the background on patients’ smartphone during the study participation. Results The principal outcome measure was the identification of mobility pattern changes based on an unsupervised detection technique applied to the smartphone’s native sensors data. Here, results from 5 patients’ records are presented as a case series. The eB2 system detected specific mobility pattern changes according to the patients’ activity, which may be used as indicators of behavioral and clinical state changes. Conclusions The proposed technique could automatically detect changes in the mobility patterns of outpatients who took part in this study. Assuming these mobility pattern changes correlated with behavioral changes, we have developed a technique that may identify possible relapses or clinical changes. Nevertheless, it is important to point out that the detected changes are not always related to relapses and that some clinical changes cannot be detected by the proposed method.
Truview PCDTM Video Laryngoscope versus McCOY Laryngoscope for Tracheal Intubation: A Comparative Study

Background: McCoy laryngoscope and video laryngoscopes are being increasingly used and have a definitive advantage over conventional laryngoscopes in management of potentially difficult airways. The aim of our study was to compare relative effectiveness of McCoy laryngoscope and True view PCD TM video laryngoscope in patients undergoing oral tracheal intubation. Methods: Fifty patients of American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) grade I and II, aged 20 ‐ 50 years, posted for elective surgery under general anaesthesia were randomly allocated into Group T (Truview group, n=25) and Group M (McCoy group, n=25). The two groups were compared for demographic data, intubation difficulty score (IDS), Cormack-Lehane (CL) grade, POGO score, time to intubation, number of intubation attempts and haemodynamic parameters. Results: The demographic data and ASA status was comparable in both the groups. Group T had a significantly less IDS score as compared to Group M (p < 0.001). Seventeen patients in Group T and 8 patients in Group M had IDS = 0. The CL grade and POGO scores were better in Group T than in Group M. Intubation was successful in the first attempt in 94% patients in Group T and 88% patients in Group M. There was a transient increase in HR and NIBP after intubation in both the groups which returned back to the baseline within 5 minutes. No incidence of hypoxia and airway trauma was noted in the two groups.Conclusion: Truview PCD TM video laryngoscope resulted in better glottic visualization
Thyroxine effect on intestinal Cl \ m =-\ / HCO 3 \ m =-\ exchange in hypo-and hyperthyroid rats

Changes in transepithelial water and electrolyte transport as causative or contributing factors of the diarrhoea and constipation found associated with changes in thyroid physiology were studied. Albino Wistar rats were pharmacologically made either hypothyroid or hyperthyroid. After sacrifice, the small intestine was mounted in Ussing chambers in order to measure in vitro ion net fluxes under short-circuit conditions. Hypothyroid animals showed an increase in intestinal transit time, Cl\m=-\absorption (mainly due to an increment in its mucosal to serosal component) and residual ion flux (which is believed to represent HCO3 \m=-\ secretion) when compared with euthyroid animals. The hyperthyroid animals showed a decrease in Cl\m=-\ mucosal to serosal transport. Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between serum l-thyroxine (T4) levels and both net Cl transport (r= \m=-\0\m=.\74,P<0\m=.\00001)and residual ion flux (r= \m=-\0\m=.\55, P<0\m=.\005). These results indicate that the effect of T4 is firstly to inhibit Cl /HCO3 \m=-\anion exchange thereby influencing transepithelial flux transport and secondly to affect intestinal motility. Such inhibition was not found when T4 was acutely added to rat ileum, suggesting that the effect on electrolyte transport probably requires protein synthesis. In conclusion, the phenomenon observed in vitro could explain the clinical manifestations of constipation and diarrhoea in hypoand hyper-thyroidism respectively. Journal of Endocrinology (1996) 151, 431\p=n-\437
Mitochondrial medicine. New strategies to evaluate drug toxicity and develop pharmacological protection of the cell’s powerhouse.

Mitochondria produce the majority of the cell’s energy. Any dysfunction in, or interference with mitochondrial function can have severe consequences. And yet, it was only within the last decades that screening for potential mitochondrial toxicity was included as routine toxicity assay during early drug development. Despite improved recognition of drug-related side effects on mitochondrial function and progress in method development, translation from the in vitro to the in vivo situation and from animal to human tissues still remain obstacles. Mitochondrial dysfunction can also have genetic origin, with similar consequences. In the present thesis, we evaluated human peripheral blood cells as a model to investigate potential drug-induced mitochondrial toxicity. We demonstrated that the antidiabetic drug metformin and the analgesic drug acetaminophen induce mitochondrial dysfunction and increase cellular lactate production through inhibition of complex I function at concentrations relevant for clinical intoxication. Complex I function was also inhibited by the formulation excipient Kolliphor® EL, indicating that drug-induced mitochondrial toxicity is not only induced by active pharmaceutical ingredients. Current treatment options for mitochondrial disease are limited. Succinate, a natural metabolite of the TCA cycle and a direct substrate of complex II of the respiratory chain that can increase mitochondrial function has shown to improve clinical symptoms in case studies. However, it has limited cell-permeability. We developed novel cell-permeable succinate prodrugs and characterized them using human peripheral blood cells. We demonstrated improved oxidative phosphorylation in different models of mitochondrial dysfunction. Methylene blue, which has previously been described to improve mitochondrial function in experimental models, failed to improve oxidative phosphorylation in human peripheral blood cells under the same conditions. To investigate the bioenergetic response of human peripheral blood cells relative to other, more metabolically active tissues we further evaluated mitochondrial inhibitors and pharmacological treatment strategies in muscle fibres and human-derived primary cells and cell lines. Changes in the respiratory profiles of human peripheral blood cells reflected changes in the respiratory profiles of other, more metabolically active human cells. In conclusion, we demonstrate that human peripheral blood cells are a suitable model for evaluation of potential drug-induced mitochondrial toxicity and pharmacological bypass strategies for the support of mitochondrial function. Human peripheral blood cells, in this context, reflect the metabolic responses of other, more metabolically active human cells. (Less)
Plus-one Generated and Next to Free Arrangements of Hyperplanes

We introduce a new class of arrangements of hyperplanes, called (strictly) plus-one generated arrangements, from algebraic point of view. Plus-one generatedness is close to freeness, that is, plus-one generated arrangements have their logarithmic derivation modules generated by dimension plus-one elements, with relations containing one linear form coefficient. We show that strictly plus-one generated arrangements can be obtained if we delete a hyperplane from free arrangements. We show a relative freeness criterion in terms of plus-one generatedness. In particular, for plane arrangements, we show that a free arrangement is in fact surrounded by free or strictly plus-one generated arrangements. We also give several applications.
The Structural Hybrids of Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Review

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is characterized by the loss of memory and learning ability in elderly patients affecting large population worldwide. The enzyme Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), (E.C.3.1.1.7) plays a major role in the hydrolysis of the released neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Most of the clinically used drugs to treat AD are Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors (AChEIs). These drugs can provide symptomatic benefits only and suffer with loss of therapeutic potential with time. Therefore, there is an urgent need of novel cholinesterase inhibitors with wider therapeutic window for the treatment of AD. The strategies targeting the AChE enzyme along with other target(s) like Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), amyloid-β (Aβ), β-secretase-1 (BACE), metals (Cu2+, Zn2+, or Fe2+), antioxidant properties and free radical scavenging capacity have been mainly focused in the last five years. A number of hybrid molecules incorporating sub-structures with the desired well-established pharmacological profile into a single scaffold have been investigated. The main sub structures used in developing these molecules are derived from diverse chemical classes such as acridine, quinoline, carbamates, huperzine and other heterocyclic analogs. It has been followed by optimization of activity through structural modifications of the prototype molecules for developing the Structure Activity Relationship (SAR). This has led to the development of novel molecules with desired AChE inhibitory activity along with other desirable pharmacological properties. This review summarizes the current therapeutic strategies for the development of these AChEI in the last seven years.
Linguistic Style Accommodation Shapes Impression Formation and Rapport in Computer-Mediated Communication

Communication accommodation theory predicts that social power plays an important role in influencing communicative behaviors. Previous research suggests these effects extend to linguistic style, thought to be a nonconscious aspect of communication. Here, we explore if these effects hold when individuals converse using a medium limited in personal cues, computer-mediated communication. We manipulated social power in instant messaging conversations and measured subsequent interpersonal impressions. Low power induced greater likelihood of linguistic style accommodation, across between- (Study 1) and within-subjects (Study 2) experiments. Accommodation by those in a low-power role had no impact on impressions formed by their partner. In contrast, linguistic style accommodation by individuals in a high-power role was associated with negative interpersonal impressions formed by their lower power partner. The results show robust effects of power in shaping language use across computer-mediated communication. Furthermore, the interpersonal effects of linguistic accommodation depend on the conversational norms of the social context.
Comparison of high level design methodologies for algorithmic IPs : Bluespec and C-based synthesis

High level hardware design of Digital Signal Processing algorithms is an important design problem for decreasing design time and allowing more algorithmic exploration. Bluespec is a Hardware Design Language (HDL) that allows designers to express intended microarchitecture through high-level constructs. C-based design tools directly generate hardware from algorithms expressed in C/C++. This research compares these two design methodologies in developing hardware for Reed-Solomon decoding algorithm under area and performance metrics. This work illustrates that C-based design flow may be effective in early stages of the design development for fast prototyping. However, the Bluespec design flow produces hardware that is more customized for performance and resource constraints. This is because in later stages, designers need to have close control over the hardware structure generated that is a part of HDLs like Bluespec, but is difficult to express under the constraints of sequential C semantics. Thesis Supervisor: Arvind Title: Professor
Evolution of the longitudinal and azimuthal structure of the near-side jet peak in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 2.76$ TeV

In two-particle angular correlation measurements, jets give rise to a near-side peak, formed by particles associated to a higher $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ trigger particle. Measurements of these correlations as a function of pseudorapidity ($\Delta\eta$) and azimuthal ($\Delta\varphi$) differences are used to extract the centrality and $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ dependence of the shape of the near-side peak in the $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ range $1<p_{\mathrm{T}}<$ 8 GeV/c in Pb-Pb and pp collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}$ = 2.76 TeV. A combined fit of the near-side peak and long-range correlations is applied to the data and the peak shape is quantified by the variance of the distributions. While the width of the peak in the $\Delta\varphi$ direction is almost independent of centrality, a significant broadening in the $\Delta\eta$ direction is found from peripheral to central collisions. This feature is prominent for the low $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ region and vanishes above 4 GeV/c. The widths measured in peripheral collisions are equal to those in pp in the $\Delta\varphi$ direction and above 3 GeV/c in the $\Delta\eta$ direction. Furthermore, for the 10\% most central collisions and $1<p_{\mathrm{T, assoc}}<$ 2 GeV/c, $1<p_{\mathrm{T, trig}}<$ 3 GeV/c a departure from a Gaussian shape is found: a depletion develops around the centre of the peak. The results are compared to AMPT model simulations as well as other theoretical calculations indicating that the broadening and the development of the depletion is connected to the strength of radial and longitudinal flow.
Language Choice in Online Written Communication among Maldivian Professionals

Language choice is a sociolinguistic phenomenon which refers to the selection of language(s) for different purposes in various contexts. This study examines the language choice of Maldivians in online written communication in the domains of family, friendship and work. Dhivehi is the unique Indo-Aryan language spoken almost exclusively in the Maldives along with English as the unofficial second language. A total of 150 professionals from the fields of education, administration and health took part in the study with academic qualifications ranging from diploma to doctorate degree. The data was collected using a survey questionnaire and analysed quantitatively. The findings revealed that Dhivehi is the dominant language in the family domain while English is dominant in the friendship and work domains. There i s also a relationship between language choice and age, and English language proficiency. The high preference for English in online written communication indicates a need for a language policy that would emphasise and increase the use of Dhivehi online as a language maintenance effort Keywords: bilinguals; language choice; online written communication; domain analysis; dominant language DOI: http://doi.org/10.17576/3L-2016-2202-04
Business Failure Prediction Models : What is the Theory looking for ?

1. corporate performance, and its origin, became one of the most investigated topics in the finance and strategic literature, due to an extremely fast moving environment that disturbed the conditions in which most companies had generated for a long period relatively constant and high rates of return ; as a result, financial and organizational decline and failure perceived much attention from both researchers and economic authorities ;
Black Hole Lightning from the Peculiar Gamma-Ray Loud Active Galactic Nucleus IC 310

The nearby active galaxy IC 310, located in the outskirts of the Perseus cluster of galaxies is a bright and variable multi-wavelength emitter from the radio regime up to very high gamma-ray energies above 100 GeV. Originally, the nucleus of IC 310 has been classified as a radio galaxy. However, studies of the multi-wavelength emission showed several properties similarly to those found from blazars as well as radio galaxies. In late 2012, we have organized the first contemporaneous multi-wavelength campaign including radio, optical, X-ray and gamma-ray instruments. During this campaign an exceptionally bright flare of IC 310 was detected with the MAGIC telescopes in November 2012 reaching an averaged flux level in the night of up to one Crab above 1 TeV with a hard spectrum over two decades in energy. The intra-night light curve showed a series of strong outbursts with flux-doubling time scales as fast as a few minutes. The fast variability constrains the size of the gamma-ray emission regime to be smaller than 20% of the gravitational radius of its central black hole. This challenges the shock acceleration models, commonly used to explain gamma-ray radiation from active galaxies. Here, we will present more details on the MAGIC data and discuss several possible alternative emission models.
Teaching Black Children to Read: A Review of Psycho- and Sociolinguistic Theories and Models.

Perhaps the most intriguing problem in American education today is teaching the children of the poor to read. Children in urban co=munities usually speak a different dialect of the English lanruace. They bring to school a language containing all of the components of the informal standard dialects (syntax, stmctures, form, style and lexicon) and one that has deep-rooted emotional and cultural ties for the child. Linguistic studies have given rise to the emergence of a psycholinguistic and sociolinguistic perspective in reading-language arts teaching. This work is intended as a review of recent research underlying this perspective with special reference to language in the innercity and classroom implications for teaching Black children to read.
The Institutional Legacy of African Independence Movements

We investigate the long-term effect of the geography of anti-colonial insurgencies (c.19001960) on the nature of current democratic institutions and political behavior in Africa. We find that while rural insurgencies (e.g. Madagascar, Kenya, Cameroon, Somalia) tend to generate autocracies, urban insurgencies (e.g. Senegal, South Africa, Benin, Ghana) tend to lead to democratic institutions. This is because urban insurgencies are mass uprisings that create conditions for popular political participation and strong civil societies. In contrast, rural insurgencies are military organizations that tend to limit political rights and generate less inclusive governments. We provide evidence that the relationship between the nature of anti-colonial insurgencies and democratization causal, by using the proportion of a country covered by mountaneous terrain as an instrument for rural insurgency. The results indicate that democratization may result from the legacy of historical events, specifically the forms of political dissent under colonial rule.
Measurement and Calculation of the Critical Pulsewidth for Gain Saturation in Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers

Active semiconductor optical waveguides are essential components in many recently proposed devices for high-speed optical signal processing. It is well known that ultrafast carrier dynamics, like carrier heating and spectral holeburning, lead to gain non-linearities, which restrict the modulation bandwidth of semiconductor lasers. In the case of pulse amplification, these non-linearities lead to a pulsewidth dependence of the gain saturation [1]. A critical pulsewidth can be defined [2], which separates two qualitatively different regimes: a long-pulse regime, where the gain is determined by the pulse energy only, and a short-pulse regime, where the gain also depends on the pulsewidth. Calculated critical pulsewidths are on the order of several picoseconds [1], which is getting in the range of pulses being explored for ultrafast optical signal processing. Experiments that we are aware of. however, do not investigate the detailed dependence of the saturation energy versus pulse duration, and subsequently do not allow extraction of the critical pulsewidth.