Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Capital Budgeting Decisions of Private Equity: Evidence from India

An efficient allocation of capital is the most important finance function in the modern times. It involves decisions to commit the firm’s funds to the long term assets. Capital Budgeting or investment decisions are of considerable importance to firm, since they tend to determine the value by influencing its growth, profitability and risk. This paper studies the determinants of capital structure choice of selected Indian Industries. Our main objective was to investigate whether and to what extend the main capital structure theories can explain the capital structure choice of Indian firms. In this paper we report results from executives of companies of different industries. We document interesting insights by analyzing how theoretical corporate finance concepts are applied by the experts in practice. We have applied multiple regression models on the selected industries by using survey data for the period 2005-2011. The results of the study indicate that the determinants of the capital structure of Industries in India are agency cost, assets structure, non-dept. tax shield and size. The coefficients of these variables are significant at one percent or five percent level.
Using Twitter During an Academic Conference: The #iswc2009 Use-Case

We recently addressed a survey to Semantic Web researchers, in which Twitter was ranked in the top three services used in order to spread information and reach peer researchers, students, as well as a broader audience. In order to figure out how Twitter is really used by this community, we conducted an analysis of the Twitter feed of the recent 8th International Semantic Web Conference (#iswc2009).
Decreased expression of the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein/alpha 2-macroglobulin receptor in invasive cell clones derived from human prostate and breast tumor cells.

The importance of receptors involved in the clearance of proteases and protease/inhibitor complexes in tumor invasion is unknown. We studied the expression of the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein/alpha 2-macroglobulin receptor (LRP/alpha 2-MR), the major receptor involved in the clearance of protease/inhibitor complexes, in invasive and noninvasive subclones derived from tumor cells. The receptor activity was 2- to 3-fold lower in invasive subclones compared to noninvasive subclones derived from human prostate PC-3 and DU 145 and melanoma A2058 cells. The receptor activity was decreased in breast cancer (MCF-10A) cells transfected with mutated Ha-ras compared to nontransfected cells. Furthermore, invasive cells derived from ras-transfected MCF-10A cells expressed lower levels of receptor compared to their non-invasive counterparts. These studies indicate a correlation between invasive phenotype and low receptor expression in different tumor cells. Experiments were performed to understand two possible mechanisms (decreased transcription of the receptor and increased transcription of an inhibitory protein) for the decreased cell-surface expression of the receptor in invasive cells. The decreased expression in invasive subclones was due to 2- to 3-fold lower levels of LRP/alpha 2-MR mRNA in all cells. In invasive PC-3 subclones, but not in DU 145, A2058, and MCF-10A subclones, 2-fold higher levels of the 39 kDa receptor-associated protein (an inhibitor of the receptor) mRNA were observed. These studies showed that the decreased expression of LRP/alpha 2-MR activity in invasive subclones was generally correlated with the decreased steady-state mRNA levels of the receptor. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Why do companies go private? The Spanish case

Although more than five hundred companies have gone private from the Madrid Stock Exchange in the last twenty-five years, applied economic and business literature contains few papers analysing the reasons behind this phenomenon, which is more common than we presume. Putting forward the costs and benefits of being listed, we attempt to find out the causes of going private in order to propose and test a series of hypotheses related to Stock Market performance. The main results show that the high concentration of shareholdings in these firms, often resulting from prior takeovers, has a negative impact on their stock market liquidity. On the other hand, the variable measuring the degree of attention paid by financial analysts to these firms is significant. Their lack of interest could be explained by the aforementioned shortage of liquidity. However, the size of the firm also appears to be an important factor related to their unconcern. In the end, the lack of depth of this firms? shares market makes that the information that company obtains from market prices about company value lacks accuracy, and this is possibly the greatest loss when it comes to deciding to go private.
Effects of plyometric training on explosive strength, acceleration capacity and kicking speed in young elite soccer players.

AIM The main aim of this study was to determine the effects of a 10-week plyometric training program on explosive strength, acceleration capacity and kicking speed in young elite soccer players. METHODS Twenty-two players participated in the study: control group (CG), (N.=11; 18.2 ± 0.9 years) and treatment group (TG) (N.=11; 18.4 ± 1.1 years). Both groups performed technical and tactical training exercises and matches together. However, the CG players followed the regular physical conditioning program, which was replaced by a plyometric program for TG. Plyometric training took place three days a week and included jumps over hurdles, horizontal jumps and lateral jumps over hurdles. Jumping ability, 10 m sprint and kicking speed were measured on five separate occasions. RESULTS Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures reflected that the TG demonstrated significant increases (P<0.05) in jumping ability and acceleration capacity after six weeks of training and in kicking speed with dominant and non-dominant leg after eight and ten weeks respectively. On the other hand there were no significant changes in CG players throughout the study. CONCLUSION The main findings revealed that a 10-week plyometric program may be an effective training stimulus to improve explosive strength compared to a more conventional physical training program. The improvements in explosive strength can be transferred to acceleration capacity and kicking speed but players need time to transfer these increases.
1-6-2014 Renal recovery

Acute kidney injury (AKI) research in the past decade has mostly focused upon development of a standard AKI definition, validation of early novel biomarkers to predict AKI prior to serum creatinine rise and predict AKI severity, and assessment of aspects of renal replacement therapies and their impact on survival. Given the independent association between AKI and mortality in the acute phase, such focus makes imminent sense. More recently, the recognition that AKI is associated with subsequent development of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease, with the attendant increase in mortality, has led to interest in the clinical epidemiology and the mechanistic understanding of renal recovery after an AKI episode in critically ill patients. We review the current knowledge surrounding renal recovery after an AKI episode, including renal replacement therapy initiation timing and modality impact, biomarker assessment and mechanistic targets to guide potential future clinical trials.
Mercury Content of Blood Transfusions for Infants With Extremely Low Birth Weight

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether blood transfusions for infants with birth weights of 1000 g or less are a source of mercury and whether any mercury delivered through the transfusion is above the currently set oral reference dose. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied an observational cohort. Inclusion criteria included birth weight 1000 g or less and receipt of 1 or more packed red blood cell transfusions. Packed red blood cell units were tested prospectively for mercury levels. The quantity of transfused mercury was calculated on the basis of transfused volume and packed red blood cell mercury level. The resulting mercury level was compared with the reference dose as set by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the World Health Organization, and the US Environmental Protection Agency. RESULTS: Thirty-seven infants (birth weight: 736 ± 157 g; gestational age: 25.5 ± 1.5 weeks) met the inclusion criteria. A total of 325 transfusions from 49 packed red blood cell units were administered. Mercury was detected in 40 units. The average mercury level in a packed red blood cell unit was 1.9 ± 2.6 μg/L (median: 0.9 μg/L [interquartile range: 0.3–2.5]). None of the infants received any mercury above the reference dose set by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and the World Health Organization. Twelve infants received 1 transfusion, and 5 infants received 2 transfusions above the Environmental Protection Agency reference dose during their entire hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Packed red blood cells are a source of mercury for infants. However, the amount delivered is low compared with currently set safety levels. The episodes in which mercury intake exceeded the reference dose were rare. However, without long-term follow-up, no conclusions can be made about the cognitive implications of these episodes.
Polymorphisms in the CYP1A1 gene are associated with prostate cancer risk

CYP1A1 is likely to play an important role in the etiology of CaP through its function in activating environmental procarcinogens and catalyzing the oxidative metabolites of estrogens. To test the hypothesis that genetic polymorphisms in the CYP1A1 gene may be associated with the risk for CaP, we compared the allele, genotype and haplotype frequencies of 3 SNPs (3801T>C, 2455A>G and 2453C>A) of CYP1A1 among 159 HPC probands, 245 sporadic CaP cases and 222 unaffected men. Two SNPs (3801T>C and 2455A>G) were each individually associated with CaP risk when the allele and genotype frequencies were compared between CaP patients and unaffected controls. Furthermore, a combined SNP analysis using a haplotype approach revealed an even stronger association in Caucasians. Specifically, 4 major haplotypes (T‐A‐C, C‐A‐C, C‐G‐C and T‐A‐A) accounted for 99.8% of all observed haplotypes. These 4 haplotypes correspond to the previously described nomenclature (CYP1A1*1A, CYP1A1*2A, CYP1A1*2B and CYP1A1*4). The frequencies of these 4 haplotypes were significantly different among CaP patients and controls. The haplotype T‐A‐C (CYP1A1*1A) was significantly associated with increased risk for CaP, and the haplotype C‐A‐C (CYP1A1*2A) was significantly associated with decreased risk for CaP. These findings suggest that genetic polymorphisms in CYP1A1 may modify the risk for CaP. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Production of 26-deoxymonensins A and B by Streptomyces cinnamonensis in the presence of Metyrapone

Metyrapone, a potent cytochrome P-450 inhibitor, added at 9 mM to a submerged culture of Streptomyces cinnamonensis caused partial inhibition of total monensin biosynthesis and coproduction of new metabolites, 26-deoxymonensins A and B. The latter was isolated as its 25-O-methyl derivative. Metyrapone was simultaneously reduced to metyrapol. All of these compounds were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry.
Depression and Social Defeat Stress Are Associated with Inhibitory Synaptic Changes in the Nucleus Accumbens

Chronic stress in both humans and rodents induces a robust downregulation of neuroligin-2, a key component of the inhibitory synapse, in the NAc that modifies behavioral coping mechanisms and stress resiliency in mice. Here we extend this observation by examining the role of two other inhibitory synapse constituents, vesicular GABA transporter (vGAT) and gephyrin, in the NAc of male mice that underwent chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) and in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). We first performed transcriptional profiling of vGAT and gephyrin in postmortem NAc samples from a cohort of healthy controls, medicated, and nonmedicated MDD patients. In parallel, we conducted whole-cell electrophysiology recordings in the NAc of stress-susceptible and stress-resilient male mice following 10 d of CSDS. Finally, we used immunohistochemistry to analyze protein levels of vGAT and gephyrin in the NAc of mice after CSDS. We found that decreased vGAT and gephyrin mRNA in the NAc of nonmedicated MDD patients is paralleled by decreased inhibitory synapse markers and decreased frequency of mini inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSC) in the NAc of susceptible mice, indicating a reduction in the number of NAc inhibitory synapses that is correlated with depression-like behavior. Overall, these findings suggest a common state of reduced inhibitory tone in the NAc in depression and stress susceptibility. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Existing studies focus on excitatory synaptic changes after social stress, although little is known about stress-induced inhibitory synaptic plasticity and its relevance for neuropsychiatric disease. These results extend our previous findings on the critical role of impaired inhibitory tone in the NAc following stress and provide new neuropathological evidence for reduced levels of inhibitory synaptic markers in human NAc from nonmedicated major depressive disorder patients. This finding is corroborated in stress-susceptible male mice that have undergone chronic social defeat stress, a mouse model of depression, at both the level of synaptic function and protein expression. These data support the hypothesis that reduced inhibitory synaptic transmission within the NAc plays a critical role in the stress response.
Demonstration of Germanium nMOSFETs with interface passivation of ozone pre-gate treatment and ozone ambient annealing

Germanium nMOSFETs with Ge/GeO<sub>2</sub>/HfO<sub>2</sub>/TiN gate stacks are fabricated and analyzed. The Ge/HfO<sub>2</sub> interface is passivated using ozone pre-gate treatment and ozone ambient annealing method to form a Ge/GeO<sub>2</sub>/HfO<sub>2</sub> gate stack. The fabricated devices show promising electrical characteristics. The peak electron mobility of 586 cm<sup>2</sup>/Vs reflects the effective passivation results of the dual ozone treatment method.
Role of Area-Level Access to Primary Care on the Geographic Variation of Cardiometabolic Risk Factor Distribution: A Multilevel Analysis of the Adult Residents in the Illawarra—Shoalhaven Region of NSW, Australia

Background: Access to primary care is important for the identification, control and management of cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs). This study investigated whether differences in geographic access to primary care explained area-level variation in CMRFs. Methods: Multilevel logistic regression models were used to derive the association between area-level access to primary care and seven discrete CMRFs after adjusting for individual and area-level co-variates. Two-step floating catchment area method was used to calculate the geographic access to primary care for the small areas within the study region. Results: Geographic access to primary care was inversely associated with low high density lipoprotein (OR 0.94, CI 0.91–0.96) and obesity (OR 0.91, CI 0.88–0.93), after adjusting for age, sex and area-level disadvantage. The intra-cluster correlation coefficient (ICCs) of all the fully adjusted models ranged between 0.4–1.8%, indicating low general contextual effects of the areas on CMRF distribution. The area-level variation in CMRFs explained by primary care access was ≤10.5%. Conclusion: The findings of the study support proportionate universal interventions for the prevention and control of CMRFs, rather than any area specific interventions based on their primary care access, as the contextual influence of areas on all the analysed CMRFs were found to be minimal. The findings also call for future research that includes other aspects of primary care access, such as road-network access, financial affordability and individual-level acceptance of the services in order to gain an overall picture of the area-level contributing role of primary care on CMRFs in the study region.
Line Managers' Involvement in Diversity Management - An Outlook into the Future

This paper aims at investigating the degree of diversity management policy devolution to line managers. Apart from that, it explores what measures, support and skills line managers need in order to be able to face the future trend of diversity. A literature review and eight expert interviews with HR managers were conducted in order to compare the current and future prerequisites of successful HR devolution and diversity management. A great discrepancy between the findings from literature and from the interviews were found. The sampled companies are not prepared for the future challenges diversity entails. Diversity is going to increase within workforces, the HR managers, however, seem to be unaware of the implications of this change. They have not yet generated diversity policies nor assigned line managers with the implementation of these. For diversity management to be successful, the line management needs to be formally assigned the implementation of diversity policies. Furthermore, companies should invest in establishing diversity training and policies in order to be able to face this trend and prepare the line managers for their empowerment.
E-Shopping and its interactions with in-store shopping

Nowadays, the Internet permeates society: for many people, life without the Internet is hard to imagine. E-shopping (searching and/or buying products online) has rapidly gained popularity in the past few years, and could affect consumers’ visits to stores. The goal of this research is to show which consumers shop online and how this relates to their store visits. The findings show that people who frequently shop online do not visit stores less often. On the contrary; store visits seem to be stimulated by e-shopping. Additionally, e-shopping seems to be encouraged by visiting stores. For the present, it looks as if retailers need not worry about the closure of their stores through an increase in e-shopping. In the long term, however, this is not beyond the realms of possibility. Sociodemographics, Internet behaviour, and shopping attitudes are all associated with the adoption of e-shopping. Where you live and how many stores are close by are factors that also affect online shopping. E-shopping is unlikely to function as a means of reducing travel, although the results also show that e-shopping might substitute for shopping trips. Overall, more rather than less travel is likely to occur. More travel leads to more pollution, so policy makers have to be aware of the potential environmental effects of e-shopping.
The Influence of Perceived Integrity, Perceived Competence and Experience on Consumer’s Trust in Online Shopping in the Tulusrejo District of Malang City

This study examines the influence of perceived integrity, perceived competence and experience on consumer’s trust in online shopping in the Tulusrejo district of Malang city. The independent variables in this study are perceived integrity, perceived competence and experience. Consumer’s trust in online shopping is a dependent variable. The study to test the hypotheses on First Order Construct (FOC) used Partial Least Square (PLS) with sample are 295 peoples. Finally, the results found that perceived integrity, perceived competence and experience has a positive effect towards consumer’s trust in online shopping. Therefore, confidence (trust) of consumers to shop online will determine the consumer's decision to engage transaction or not. Lack of trust to shop online will reduce the willingness of consumers to do online transaction. Keywords: Perceived Integrity, Perceived Competence, Experience, Consumer’s Trust in Online Shopping
Proposed Framework for Understanding Information Security Culture and Practices in the Saudi Context

An examination of Information Security (IS) and Information Security Management (ISM) research in Saudi Arabia has shown the need for more rigorous studies focusing on the implementation and adoption processes involved with IS culture and practices. Overall, there is a lack of academic and professional literature about ISM and more specifically IS culture in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the overall aim of this paper is to identify issues and factors that assist the implementation and the adoption of IS culture and practices within the Saudi environment. The goal of this paper is to identify the important conditions for creating an information security culture in Saudi Arabian organizations. We plan to use this framework to investigate whether security culture has emerged into practices in Saudi Arabian organizations.
Thyroid Hormone Increases Basal and Insulin-Stimulated Glucose Transport in Skeletal Muscle: The Role of GLUT4 Glucose Transporter Expression

In skeletal muscle, the main site of insulin-mediated glucose disposal, the major muscle glucose transporter GLUT4 is induced by thyroid hormone. To test the hypothesis that thyroid hormone alters muscle glucose transport, we examined the effect of L-triiodothyronine (T3) on glucose transport and GLUT4 protein content in isolated rat skeletal muscles. Euthyroid rats were treated with or without T3 for 3 days, and [3H]2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) uptake in soleus and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles was measured under conditions in which transport was rate limiting for uptake in the absence or presence of 10 nmol/l insulin. In control animals, insulin stimulated 2-DG uptake sevenfold in soleus and fivefold in EDL. T3 treatment increased basal 2-DG uptake in soleus and EDL by 115 ± 29% and 136 ± 23%, respectively, and increased insulin-stimulated 2-DG uptake in soleus and EDL by 55 ± 9 and 42 ± 12%, respectively. Immunoblot analysis revealed that T3 treatment increased GLUT4 protein content in soleus by 43 ± 6% and in EDL by 56 ± 13%. These data demonstrate that thyroid hormone increases basal and insulin-stimulated glucose transport in skeletal muscle. The percentage increase in insulin-stimulated transport in T3-treated muscles is similar to the increase in GLUT4 protein content, whereas the percentage change in basal transport greatly exceeds the change in GLUT4. Thus, increased insulin-stimulated glucose transport in T3-treated muscle can be accounted for by the induction of GLUT4 protein. However, increased basal glucose transport in T3-treated muscle must reflect additional mechanisms, such as increased subcellular partitioning of GLUT4 to plasma membrane.