Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Axotomy as an Experimental Model of Neuronal Injury and Cell Death

Axonal transaction provides very useful paradigms to study cellular responses to injury, mechanisms of regeneration and plasticity, and processes that lead to nerve cell degeneration. Moreover, models of axotomy are valuable for testing experimental therapeutic approaches. Lesions can be made with great precision, and, depending on the neural system, location of the lesion, and age of the animal, these models allow the opportunity to examine a range of neuronal responses. Many parameters influence the character, evolution, and outcomes of axotomy‐related processes. The most severe outcome of axotomy is cell death, very common in lesions of neurons of the central nervous system (CNS), although neurons of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) may also die if the transection is sufficiently close to the neuronal cell body or if lesions are performed in young animals. Studies of axotomy models have provided clues into the cellular/molecular events associated with neuronal death and the ways in which interventions can delay or prevent processes that lead to cell death. In this review, we select examples, primarily from our own work, to illustrate how axotomy models have enhanced our understanding of neuronal responses to injury, clarified mechanisms of both regeneration/plasticity and degeneration / cell death, and allowed assessments of the utility of therapeutic approaches.
Incidence of testicular germ‐cell malignancies in England and Wales: Trends in children compared with adults

The incidence of testicular cancer has been increasing markedly in most industrialised countries. This rise is known to have affected young adults, but it is less clear whether it has affected other age groups, particularly children. We used data from the National Cancer Registry file at the Office of National Statistics (ONS) and the National Registry of Childhood Tumours to examine trends in testicular germ‐cell malignancies overall in England and Wales from 1962 to 1990 and in children from 1962 to 1995. The incidence of testicular cancer at all ages rose by 3.4% (95% CI 3.3–3.6%) per annum from 1962 to 1990. A similar rise in the incidence of germ‐cell malignancies occurred during the years for which histological information was available in the ONS files, 1971–1989 (3.4%; 3.1–3.6%), to which both seminomas and non‐seminomas contributed equally. The incidence of non‐seminomas in adults rose in men under age 55 years and declined in older men, whereas there were increases in the incidence of seminomas in both young and older men. Cohort analysis at young ages showed a marked rise in the risk of germ‐cell malignancies up to the cohort born in 1955–1959 but no further rise for those born subsequently. The rise in the incidence of these tumours in young adults was paralleled by a similar trend, although less marked, in children aged under 15 years (1.3% per annum; 0.2–2.5%). The increase in risk for children in this very large data set alongside the rise in young adults is compatible with the hypothesis that childhood and adult testicular germ‐cell malignancies may have some common risk factors, presumably pre‐natal. Int. J. Cancer 83:630–634, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Influence of perceived breast cancer risk on screening behaviors of female relatives from the Ontario site of the Breast Cancer Family Registry

Few studies have examined the influence of perceived risk on breast screening behaviors among women with an increased familial breast cancer risk. This study included 1019 women aged 20–71 years from the Ontario site of the Breast Cancer Family Registry who had at least one first-degree relative diagnosed with breast and/or ovarian cancer. Information was obtained from a self-administered questionnaire completed at the time of recruitment and a follow-up telephone questionnaire. The associations between breast screening behaviors and perceived risk of developing breast cancer, measured on both a numerical and Likert-type verbal scale, were estimated using logistic regression analyses. Women who rated their risk of developing breast cancer as greater than 50% compared with less than 50% were significantly more likely to have a screening mammogram within the last 12 months (odds ratio: 1.91; 95% confidence interval: 1.15–3.16). Women were significantly more likely to have a screening mammogram (odds ratio: 1.82; 95% confidence interval: 1.17–2.81) in the past 12 months if they rated their risk as above or much above average compared with same as average or below. These findings may inform educational messages for improving risk communication of women at elevated familial breast cancer risk.
The Adoption of Deferred Share Unit Plans for Outside Directors and Shareholder Wealth

The positive stock market reaction to DSU adoption provides valid economic underpinnings to the current worldwide trend in director compensation toward the cancellation of stock option plans and their substitution by DSU. However, the adoption of DSU plans for directors does not add much value in settings where there is already good monitoring by a large shareholder, by a broader investor base or by the board.The paper adds to the scant literature on directors' compensation by examining a recent development in directors' pay; DSU plans having many distinguishing features that set them apart from stock options. Second, it investigates whether investors' reaction varies with DSU attributes. Third, the specificity of the Canadian settings allows an analysis of the reaction to DSU adoption given different ownership structures and stock market listing.The sample comprises all firms within Canada's top 1,000 that adopted DSU plans between 1997 (first one) and 2005. Results show that adopters exhibit positive abnormal returns at the adoption announcements and that these vary in accordance with DSU attributes: Investors reward firms that adopt stricter standards. Findings also indicate a more positive reaction when firms are widely held, have higher levels of related directors, higher free cash flows, and are not cross-listed in the US.We examine the impact of the adoption of deferred share unit (DSU) plans for directors on a firm's stock market value. We also examine the differential response to plan and firm characteristics.
Central and peripheral fatigue following non‐exhaustive and exhaustive exercise of disparate metabolic demands

The development of fatigue after non‐exhaustive and exhaustive exercise eliciting differing metabolic demands is poorly understood. Sixteen active males completed five cycling trials. The first trial established the lactate threshold (LT) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). Two of the remaining trials were completed at a severe intensity (halfway between LT and VO2max, SI) and two at a moderate intensity (90% LT, MI). Each trial involved two non‐exhaustive bouts matched for work between intensities before cycling to exhaustion. Responses to stimulation of the femoral nerve and motor cortex were determined after each bout to determine peripheral and central fatigue. Corticospinal excitability, cortical silent period (cSP), short‐interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), and intracortical facilitation (ICF) were also assessed. Non‐exhaustive cycling induced greater peripheral and central fatigue in the SI compared with the MI (P < 0.05). At exhaustion, there was no difference between intensities; however, peripheral fatigue tended to be greater in the SI vs MI (−31% vs −17%, respectively, P = 0.051). Exhaustive cycling increased SICI (24%, P < 0.001) and reduced the cSP (−14%, P < 0.001) in the SI, whereas ICF was reduced in the MI (−16%, P < 0.001). These findings demonstrate exercise‐induced metabolic stress accelerates the development of peripheral and central fatigue, and differentially influences intracortical excitability.
A Conceptual Structure of Resilience among Thai Elderly

The study aimed to develop a conceptual structure of resilience among Thai elderly. A literature review and qualitative approach were adopted as its methodology. Based on Grotberg (1995, 2003), the three sources of resilience, “I AM”, “I HAVE”, and “I CAN” were used as the initial concept. To specify the elderly resilience, theories and research models related to elderly resilience from extant literatures were integrated to the conceptual structure. In-depth - interview and focus group discussion among 14 resilient Thai elderly were conducted to develop the specific conceptual structure of Thai elderly resilience. Based on those three sources of resilience, the results revealed 18 components contributing to the conceptual structure of resilience specifically to Thai elderly. The newly developed conceptual structure can serve as a framework for future research attempting to develop a measure or program aiming at the resilience among Thai elderly.
The information content of mandatory risk factor disclosures in corporate filings

Beginning in 2005, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) mandated firms to include a “risk factor” section in their Form 10-K to discuss “the most significant factors that make the company speculative or risky. ” In this study, we examine the information content of this newly created section and offer two main results. First, we find that firms facing greater risk disclose more risk factors, and that the type of risk the firm faces determines whether it devotes a greater portion of its disclosures towards describing that risk type. That is, managers provide risk factor disclosures that meaningfully reflect the risks they face. Second, we find that the information conveyed by risk factor disclosures is reflected in systematic risk, idiosyncratic risk, information asymmetry, and firm value. Overall, our evidence supports the SEC’s decision to mandate risk factor disclosures, as the disclosures appear to be firm-specific and useful to investors.
Cross-Layer Designs and Analysis of Adaptive-Rate Transmission and ARQ for Free-Space Optical Communications

The impact of atmospheric turbulence is one of the most challenging issues for the widespread deployment of free-space optical (FSO) communication systems. To enhance the systems' performance, adaptive-rate (AR) transmission and automatic repeat request (ARQ) have been separately considered at the physical and data link control layers. This paper introduces a framework of cross-layer design, analysis, and optimization for FSO communication systems, in which ARQ and AR transmission are jointly integrated to further improve the overall system performance over atmospheric turbulence channels. Two cross-layer designs are considered: 1) AR and standard ARQ and 2) AR and ARQ with frame combining. In addition, we newly develop a Markov chain model-based cross-layer analysis to evaluate system performance. System performance metrics, including spectral efficiency, maximum expected number of transmissions, and outage probability, are analytically studied under the presence of atmospheric turbulence. In numerical results, how the cross-layer designs significantly outperform conventional ones is quantitatively shown. Furthermore, we discuss a cross-layer optimization of selecting the ARQ persistence level for the tradeoff between the spectral efficiency and the number of transmissions.
Persistence in Portuguese mutual fund performance

Recent evidence suggests that future performance is predictable from past performance, that is, funds with superior (inferior) performance in the past are likely to remain good (bad) performers in the future. This research addresses the persistence of mutual fund performance in a European regional market (the Portuguese equity fund market). Some of the problems in evaluating fund persistence are identified in the context of limited sample size and using the peer group median as a benchmark for contingency table analysis of performance persistence. The criteria for assessing performance persistence based on the contingency table methodology of repeated winners and losers are presented in terms of significance statistics, adjusted for small sample bias. The adjustments are accomplished through the Yates continuity correction and Fisher's exact p-value. The appropriateness of each criteria under different circumstances is also discussed. The analysis of the returns of all Portuguese domestic equity funds, since a representative number was established, shows some performance persistence (on a quarterly basis). The persistence, however, is reduced when the returns are controlled for the various dimensions of risk. Significant risk persistence has been documented. Furthermore, for more or less frequent intervals of measurement, the industry persistence is rejected, although individual funds exhibit superior/inferior performance.
Simultaneous modeling of impedance and radiation pattern antenna for UWB pulse modulation

This paper presents antenna modeling for UWB applications. Indeed, the antenna is the source of possible distortions on both matching and radiation patterns. So this paper proposes a model for the input impedance and a model to give a representation of the radiation pattern. The input impedance equivalent circuit is composed of parallel RLC resonator cells in series. All the parameters can be calculated and allow us to obtain a good interpolation of the complex impedance. The radiation pattern gain can be represented by the sum of a proposed function. The phase center has to be determined to complement this model. These two models can be used consecutively to observe the distortion of pulses transmitted through an antenna and so characterize the antenna concerning its qualities for UWB transmissions.
“Moving Three Times Is Like Having Your House on Fire Once”: The Experience of Place and Impending Displacement among Public Housing Residents

The HOPE VI programme in the US displaces tens of thousands of low-income households to disperse pockets of poverty and transform sites of `severely distressed' public housing into mixed-income housing. A complete evaluation of this programme's impacts on residents must examine the meanings and functions of these communities before they are dismantled. Therefore, this paper examines residents' lived experiences of place in one site before redevelopment. This socially well-functioning community allowed residents to lay down roots, form place attachments and create bonds of mutual support with neighbours, contrary to typical depictions of severely distressed housing. Implications for US public housing policy and parallels with the discourse on social housing and social inclusion in western Europe illuminate overarching trends in housing policy for the poor.
Prevalence of HIV among blood donors at Beni-Suef University Hospital Blood Bank, Egypt.

BACKGROUND The prevalence rate of HIV among blood donors differs between countries and regions. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HIV among blood donors in the Blood Bank of Beni-Suef University Hospital, Egypt, during the 5 years 2010-2014. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a retrospective, record-based study that involved the abstraction of data of all donors from registers at the Beni-Suef University Hospital Blood Bank during the period 2010-2014. Data were transformed onto data sheets and entered into a computer database. RESULTS Of the 26 442 blood donors, 24 733 (93.5%) were male and 1709 (6.5%) were female. The mean age for the whole group was 29.88±7.6 (range=18-65) years. The prevalence of HIV was 0.1% (14 donors); of them, there were 13 (92.9%) male donors and one (7.1%) female donor, but this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.9). More than 50% (57.1%) of HIV-positive patients (8/14) were between 20 and 29 years of age and four (28.6%) were between 30 and 39 years of age, with no statistically significant difference (P=0.08). There were HIV-HCV coinfections in two donors (14.3%) (P=0.5). The highest percentage (35.7%) of HIV-positive donors (five donors) were of blood group B, with no significant difference (P=0.2). CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS The prevalence of HIV was low (0.1%) among blood donors in Beni-Suef, Egypt, with no significant differences for age or sex. The incidence of HIV-HCV coinfection was 14.3%. We recommend strengthening of the healthcare system by improving the screening facilities for HIV and other transfusion-transmissible infections.
Le monde au prisme des réseaux aériens

Cet article etudie la dynamique de l’organisation de l’espace mondial par les echanges aeriens internationaux de passagers durant les deux dernieres decennies. Grâce a leur capacite relativement rapide a s’ajuster a l’offre et a la demande, les reseaux aeriens sont des marqueurs incontournables de la mondialisation. En placant ce travail dans une logique relationnelle des territoires, l’objectif est d’apprehender l’espace mondial en terme d’articulations et d’interdependances afin de mettre en evidence les differentes modalites de son integration spatiale. Cette etude tente de depasser certaines images trop statiques du monde qui le reduise a une hierarchie de poles ou seuls les processus de production des richesses sont comptabilises. Des pistes de recherches sont egalement proposees pour modifier les representations tronquees mais communement vehiculees de l’espace mondial. L’ouverture se fait en direction notamment d’une integration dans la reflexion des lieux et des liens de l’hemisphere Sud souvent invisibles dans la plupart des analyses du systeme mondial.
An Empirical Test of the Impact of Managerial Self-interest on Corporate Capital Structure

This paper provides a test of whether capital structure decisions are at least in part motivated by managerial self-interest. It is show n that the debt ratio is negatively related to management's sharehold ing, reflecting the greater nondiversifiable risk of debt to manageme nt than to public investors for maintaining a low debt ratio. Unless there is a nonmanagerial principal stockholder, no substantial increase of debt can be realized. It may be suggestive that the existence of large nonmangerial stockholders might make the interests of Finance. Copyright 1988 by American Finance Association.
A Control Function Approach to Estimating the Returns to Schooling in Urban China

This paper applies a new estimator to estimate the returns to schooling in urban China. The identification via heteroskedasticity principle is used to control for the endogeneity of schooling when there are no valid instrumental variables. With the urban data in 2002 wave of Chinese Household Income Projects (CHIPs), we find, after controlling for the endogeneity of schooling, the estimates of returns to schooling over the sample period are far below the Ordinary Least Squares estimates which is in contrast to many alternative studies, which frequently find that the Ordinary Least Squares estimates are lower than the Instrumental Variables estimates. This lends to support the conventional wisdom that the endogeneity of schooling is due to the unobserved ability.
Can Online Decision Aids Support Non-Cognitive Web Shopping Approaches?

This article investigates two research questions concerning web shopping tools. The first asks how online decision aids can support a consumer’s non-cognitive decision processes. The second asks how these tools support non-cognitive online shopping for products of different categories. To answer these questions, the author conducted a thorough literature review in the fields of management information systems, e-commerce and consumer behaviour. The results show that e-shoppers may adopt several non-cognitive decision-making approaches. Not one tool is sufficient to support all of these, but web stores should offer a selection of decision aids to satisfy their customers’ needs. These tools need to be adapted as well to the categories of products offered in each web store.
Microenterprise Growth At The Base Of The Pyramid: A Resource-Based Perspective

In a base-of-the-pyramid context, the ability to start ventures is often quite robust because micro-entrepreneurs are able to start with few resources and can often sustain ventures for extended lengths of time in the absence of meaningful revenues. Yet, the ability to grow ventures tends to be much more problematic. This paper examines the role of resources in yielding competitive advantage for microenterprises in base-of-the-pyramid markets, arguing that the value of resources is a function of their ability to supplement formal institutional voids. We consider access to formal infrastructure, assets that provide stability and business skills as potential sources of competitive advantage. We also examine the effect of resource allocation tactics on microenterprise growth. We test our theory using a sample of South African microenterprise owners. Implications are drawn for ongoing theory development and practice.
Audit Quality Effects of an Individual Audit Engagement Partner Signature Mandate

The European Union recently mandated that audit engagement partners sign their name to the audit opinion. However, there is little evidence demonstrating whether such a mandate had any influence on audit quality. We examine the audit quality effects of a partner signature mandate by comparing multiple measures of audit quality in years after adoption of an audit partner signature mandate in the Netherlands, a country with no tradition of partner signatures, to the audit quality in years prior to adoption, as well as to the United Kingdom, a country with a similar legal and accounting environment, but which did not adopt partner-level signatures at the same time. We detect no substantial change in audit quality using multiple measures and sample selection criteria. Although a null result cannot demonstrate that no effect exists, power tests suggest the lack of an economically significant effect. Our results support the arguments of practitioners who believe that mandatory partner signatures will not influence audit quality.
Backward Blocking and Recovery from Overshadowing in Human Causal Judgement: The Role of Within-compound Associations

We replicated and extended a project by Dickinson and Burke (1996) that concerned human causal judgement. In a medical diagnostic setting, college students’ ratings of the causal efficacy of target cues showed retrospective revaluation: relative to a proper control condition, ratings of target cues both increased (“recovery from overshadowing”) and decreased (“backward blocking”) during a second stage of training in which competing cues, but not target cues, were presented. These changes in causal judgements were exhibited only by subjects who had learned which target and competing cues were paired with one another during the first stage of training. These results cannot be explained by the Rescorla-Wagner (1972) model of associative learning, but they can be explained by the revised model of Van Hamme and Wasserman (1994); the revised model assigns non-zero salience to nonpresented target stimuli whose memories or representations are retrieved by competing stimuli that had previously been paired with those target stimuli.
A Cross-Section Analysis of Demand Deposit Variability

Commercial bank portfolio models developed by Hester [6], Porter [11], and Kane and Malkiel [7], among others, relate the structure of an asset portfolio to variation in the level of deposits. Similarly, in a recent application of linear programming to asset management, Cohen and Hammer [3] specify a liquidity constraint based upon deposit fluctuations. However, there have been few empirical studies of the determinants of demand deposit fluctuations. The purpose of this paper is to extend the work of Gramley [4], Rangarajan [12], and Wilkerson [14] on the determinants of deposit variability. In this paper, the analysis will be confined to demand deposit variability.