Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of earnings management on firms’ market-adjusted return

Earnings announcement affects respective firms’ share prices based on their performances. Financial markets react to the bottom figure of the financial statements, which the authors believe include earnings management components. Similarly, earnings surprise also affects the market share. Therefore, they believe that there is a need for empirical analysis to understand the effects of earnings management and earnings surprises on firms’ market performance. The authors use a shorter 3-day window to measure the market-adjusted returns in contrast to the existing literature because they believe that the markets are efficient and will be able to mitigate the shocks in the longer run. A shorter window excludes the likely effects of other events that could affect the returns. They use the discretionary accrual modified model and real earnings management to proxy for earnings management. Earnings management is the management’s discretionary choice to manipulate earnings to achieve the financial targets. Earnings surprise is the difference between firms’ reported earnings and the Wall Street estimates, which affects individual firms’ stock prices around the earnings announcement and in the long run. We apply multivariate-pooled OLS heteroscedasticity-consistent standard error regressions. The study results suggest that the magnitude of earnings management has a positive and significant relationship with firms’ market-adjusted return. Similarly, good news also shows a positive relationship, and a significant negative relationship exists with bad news. This indicates that the earnings announcement does indeed have significant effects on firms’ market-adjusted returns.
Chronic Ethanol Consumption Impairs Receptor-Mediated Chronic Ethanol Consumption Impairs Receptor-Mediated Endocytosis of MAA-Modified Albumin by Liver Endothelial Cells Endocytosis of MAA-Modified Albumin by Liver Endothelial Cells

Alcoholic liver disease has been associated with abnormalities in receptor-mediated endocytosis (RME) which results in abnormal degradation of metabolically altered proteins. Model systems using formaldehyde-modiﬁed albumin (f-Alb) have shown an impairment in RME following chronic alcohol consumption utilizing both in situ perfused rat livers and isolated rat liver endothelial cells (LECs). The discovery that alcohol metabolite derived aldehydes can modify proteins prompted a study to determine if malondialdehyde– acetaldehyde-modiﬁed albumin (MAA-Alb) would be degraded similar to that reported for f-Alb, and whether ethanol-fed rats would demonstrate an impaired RME with respect to this ligand which occurs as a consequence of chronic ethanol consumption. MAA-Alb was degraded slightly more than f-Alb in both in situ perfused livers and at the single cell level. This degradation was completely inhibited with 100 (cid:1) unlabeled f-Alb, which suggests the use of a similar receptor. Following alcohol consumption there was a 50–60% decrease in MAA-Alb degradation in whole livers and isolated LECs. Utilizing isolated LECs it was determined that impairment in internalization was the most likely mechanism for the decrease in the amount of MAA-Alb that was degraded. These data show that chronic alcohol consumption by rats does in fact impair RME of alcohol metabolite-derived adducted proteins, and this impairment is due to a defect in the post-internalization step rather than the binding or degradation of the modiﬁed protein. # 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Interaction of Carthamus oil, chromium picolinate and glyburide in blood glucose and its impact on liver enzymes and lipid profile in diabetes-induced rats

Introduction: Carthamus oil is a compound that has the potential to be used in numerous applications due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory and neuroprotective effects. Chromium picolinate has been indicated for the control of insulin resistance. Aim: To evaluate the effect of Carthamus oil (30 mg/kg) and chromium picolinate (5 µg/kg) interaction with oral glyburide in chemically diabetes-induced Wistar rats and its influence on drug therapy. Method: Diabetes mellitus was induced with streptozotocin, and the animals were randomized into experimental groups (n= 6/group), who received gastric gavage treatments for ten days, G1: control, G2: diabetic and received glyburide, G3: diabetic and received the interaction of Carthamus oil and chromium picolinate, G4: diabetic and received the interaction of glyburide, Carthamus oil and chromium picolinate. After the treatment period, fasting blood glucose, post-sucrose blood glucose, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in blood serum were compared, in addition to urine analysis. Results: In this study, the only altered parameters were the post-sucrose blood glucose measurement with the lowest result for G4 (P <0.05), and the ALT measurement, with lower values for G4 (P <0.05) compared to G1. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the unprecedented interaction of Carthamus oil, chromium picolinate and glyburide contributed to the reduction of blood glucose and serum levels of ALT in diabetic rats and is promising for future studies in humans.
Turbulent Flux Measurements and Energy Budget Analysis over the Equatorial Pacific during TOGA-COARE IOP

Turbulent flux measurements were carried out on board the R/V Hakuhomaru during TOGA-COARE IOP in Nov., 1992. She stayed at the station of 156°E on the equator, north of the Intensive Flux Array (IFA) of COARE region for more than 2 weeks (Asai, 1993). Turbulent fluxes were evaluated by the eddy correlation method, including ship motion corrections for wind velocity fluctuations. The weather situation was relatively calm for most of the period. Convective activity developed in the latter half of the period with occasional showers. It was found that heat fluxes from the sea surface were about 14 Wm -2 and 88 Wm -2 for sensible and latent heat fluxes, respectively, as mean values of the period when Brook's correction was accepted. However they increased to almost double when a gust front developed from the precipitating cumulus as a downdraft. Bulk transfer coefficients were estimated from eddy fluxes and bulk meteorological values. The average values of CH = 1.32 x 10 -3 and C E = 1.16 x 10 -3 were evaluated. The wind speed dependencies of the coefficients were investigated and increases in the low wind speed region were observed, which supports the previous prediction. The surface energy budget was investigated based on radiation and turbulent flux measurements. The net heat flux into the water was estimated to be about 68 Wm -2 in this period. The present data of eddy correlation measurements are considered to be one of the sea truth standards, as well as the ones from the R/V Moana Wave, Franklin and Natsushima.
Core Competencies and Employability: The Mediating Roles of Digital Literacy and Learning Strategies

This study examined the mediating roles of digital literacy and learning strategies in the influence of core competencies on employability. Participants of this study were 916 college students in 10 Korean colleges. Data analysis consisted of descriptive statistics, reliability testing, correlation analysis, and structural equation modelling. The results showed that core competency had a positive effect on employability. Learning strategies mediated the influence of core competence on employability; digital literacy did not. There was a significant multi-mediated effect of digital literacy through learning strategy on the influence of core competence on employability. These findings suggest that college students need to develop such strategies for themselves or participate in structured programs provided by their colleges to make effective use of learning strategies. Also, because learning strategy may be a catalyst for digital literacy, it is indispensable for college teachers to point out the effective use of learning strategies using mainly digital devices and resources. It is necessary to conduct follow-up research such as experimental and quasi-experimental research to verify the influence of core competencies on employability depending on learners’ characteristics such as learning styles, self-efficacy, and achievement goal orientations.
Quantum Computing Simulation of the Hydrogen Molecule System with Rigorous Quantum Circuit Derivations

Quantum Computing Simulation of the Hydrogen Molecule System with Rigorous Quantum Circuit Derivations by Yili Zhang, Master of Science Utah State University, 2022 Major Professor: Jia Zhao, Ph.D. Department: Mathematics & Statistics Quantum computing has been an emerging technology in the past few decades. It utilizes the power of programmable quantum devices to perform computation, which can solve complex problems in a feasible time that is impossible with classical computers. Simulating quantum chemical systems using quantum computers is one of the most active research fields in quantum computing. However, due to the novelty of the technology and concept, most materials in the literature are not accessible for newbies in the field and sometimes can cause ambiguity for practitioners due to missing details. This report provides a rigorous derivation of simulating quantum chemistry systems using quantum computers. The Hydrogen molecule is used as an example throughout the process to make it readable to a broader audience. Specifically, the ground state energies and the first-excited energies of the Hydrogen molecule, as well as the ground state energies of the Lithium Hydride molecule at different bond lengths under the governing of their corresponding Hamiltonians are explored through the Schrodinger’s equation, the Phase Estimation Algorithm (PEA), the second quantization, the Bravyi-Kitaev transformation (BKT), and the Hamiltonian establishment. Then, a quantum circuit is built from scratch based on the second-quantization and BKT Hamiltonian to demonstrate the process of quantum circuit derivation for quantum chemistry system. Lastly, Simulations on both the iv ground and excited state energies of the Hydrogen molecule and the ground state energies of the Lithium Hydride molecule are carried out based on the design of the circuits with Google’s Cirq quantum simulator. Finally, some quantitative and qualitative comparisons and analysis are conducted with the results.
International Journal of Science and Business

An empirical study was conducted to investigate the corporate governance variables (board size, board independence, board meeting and duality) that are related to the firm performance (ROA) in industrial product and service sector companies in Bursa Malaysia, with a particular focus on the Main Market. This paper will examined on firm performance based on return on assets (ROA) public-listed firms’ industrial product and service sector. The study adopts by examines the annual reports from the year 2014 to 2018. A multiple regression analysis was conducted on the whole population of listed companies in this sector. The empirical results suggest firm performance had significant relationship with board size, board independence and duality. In contrast, the firm performance is insignificant with board meeting. The outcome of this study could provide insight for the evidence to relevant regulatory bodies in Malaysia to look further on the effectiveness on the code of corporate governance particularly publiclisted firms’ from industrial product and service sector in Bursa Malaysia. Furthermore, the research performed for this study specifically focused on identifying governance mechanisms that have a proven impact on enhanced firms’ performance, regardless of whether they are marked as a good practice in regulation or codes. The results provide practical guidance for company directors, as well as a useful guidance for the people empowered with formulating governance regulation and codes. IJSB Accepted 20 October 2019 Published 21 October 2019 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3515013
Short chain fatty acids stimulate insulin secretion and reduce apoptosis in mouse and human islets in vitro: role of FFAR2

Aims: The aims of this study were to evaluate the role of free fatty acid receptor 2 (FFAR2/GPR43) in mediating the effects of the short chain fatty acids (ScFAs) sodium acetate (SA) and sodium propionate (SP) on islet function in vitro, and to identify the intracellular signalling pathways utilised in ScFA-induced potentiation of glucose-induced insulin secretion. Material and methods: Islets of Langerhans were isolated from WT and FFAR2 -/- mice and from non-diabetic human donors. The effects of SA and SP on dynamic insulin secretion from perifused islets were quantified by radioimmunoassay, signalling downstream of ScFAs was profiled by single-cell calcium microfluorimetry, and measurement of cAMP by fluorescence assay. Islet apoptosis was induced by exposure to cytokines or sodium palmitate and the effects of SA and SP to regulate islet apoptosis were assessed by quantification of caspase 3/7 activities. Results: Deletion of FFAR2 did not affect islet morphology or insulin content. SA and SP reversibly potentiated insulin secretion from mouse islets in a FFAR2-dependent manner. ScFA-induced potentiation of insulin secretion was coupled to Gq activation of phospholipase C and protein kinase C, with no evidence of Gi-mediated signalling. SA and SP protected human and mouse islets from apoptosis and these pro-survival properties were dependent on islet expression of FFAR2. Conclusions: Our results indicate that FFAR2 directly mediates both the stimulatory effects of SA and SP on insulin secretion and their protection against islet apoptosis. We have also shown that ScFA coupling in islets occurs via Gq-coupled intracellular signalling.
The poni test with structural breaks

The objective of this paper is to extend the analysis of the behaviour of the PONI (Point Optimal Near Integration) test to the case where the model has some deterministic terms. We show that the PONI test is, asymptotically, robust with respect to structural breaks in the constant term but not with respect to breaks in the linear time trend. So, we propose a new version of the PONI test that take into account the presence of these structural breaks when the break date is known. The behaviour of this new version is compared with the KPSS test and we conclude that the proposed test has a better trade-off between size and power than the KPSS test.
Boundary layer development on a wedge impulsively set into motion

The problem of impulsively set into motion wedge type (Falkner–Skan) flows has been formulated in a new set of scaled coordinates. Both the short time solution and the solution for infinite time, the Falkner–Skan solution, are included in the new formulation of the problem. In addition a new scaling reduces the region of integration from the traditional infinite region to a finite region, thus reducing the time required for numerical computations.The solution for the impulsively started flat plate has been obtained and compared with existing solutions to this special case to verify the method of solution. The agreement between the present solution and existing solutions for the flat plate case is excellent. Solutions have also been obtained for a number of impulsively started Falkner–Skan type flows ranging from the two-dimensional stagnation point flow to the incipient separation flow.Flows which involve an adverse pressure gradient are considered in detail to determine what information can be gained fro.
Fatal in mice reconstituted with human stem cells

Mice reconstituted with a human immune system provide a tractable in vivo model to assess human immune cell function. To date, reconstitution of murine strains with human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from patients with monogenic immune disorders have not been reported. One obstacle precluding the development of immune-disease specific “humanized” mice is that optimal adaptive immune responses in current strains have required implantation of autologous human thymic tissue. To address this issue, we developed a mouse strain that lacks murine major histocompatibility complex class II (MHCII) and instead expresses human MHCII DR1. These mice displayed improved adaptive immune responses when reconstituted with human HSCs including enhanced T cell reconstitution, delayed-type hypersensitivity responses, and class-switch recombination. Following immune reconstitution of this novel strain with HSCs from a patient with immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked (IPEX) syndrome, associated with aberrant FOXP3 function, mice developed a lethal inflammatory disorder with multi-organ involvement and autoantibody production mimicking the pathology seen in affected humans. This humanized mouse model permits in vivo evaluation of immune responses associated with genetically altered HSCs, including primary immunodeficiencies, and should facilitate the study of human immune pathobiology and the development of targeted therapeutics. J.A. G. , S.B, W.S. L, A.Y, S.Y. , J.S. , W.A.M., D.M, E.F. , F.J.Q. , B.H. H. , A.M., and S.B. S designed the experiments, collected and analyzed data. J.O. , D.S. S. , K.J.M, L.D. N. , L.P., M-G.R. , R.B. , and S-Y.P assisted with acquisition of patient samples. E.L. M. performed HLA typing. B.P. analyzed autoantigen array data. J.A. G. wrote the manuscript.
by E2 Envelope Glycoprotein Recognition of Putative Multiple Receptors Hepatitis C Virus Is Linked with Distinct Incomplete Humoral Immunity against

Little is known about the role of the humoral immune response to hepatitis C virus (HCV). This study provides molecular evidence for the mechanism by which neutralizing Abs from the sera of chronic HCV patients have lower inhibitory activities against the binding of HCV E2 envelope protein to human hepatoma cell lines than to a lymphoma cell line. E2 binds to several putative receptors, speciﬁcally human CD81; human scavenger receptor, class B, type 1; and heparan sulfate. We have shown that E2 binds to target cells via these receptors in a noncompetitive manner. Thus, incomplete inhibition of one of the receptors leads to only a partial E2 blockade and, possibly, evasion of the host immune response. We demonstrated that the difference in and reduction of inhibition was closely related to impaired blockade of E2 binding to scavenger receptor, class B, type 1, and heparan sulfate. We have also shown that soluble E2 protein binds to multiple soluble receptors via separate binding domains on E2, providing further evidence for the distinct recognition of multiple cellular receptors by E2. This report suggests a novel ﬁnding that biased humoral immune responses to HCV E2 might provide an alternative mechanism for viral escape without the involvement of mutation. Additionally, our data give crucial consideration to the development of HCV vaccines that stimulate protective humoral immune responses. The Journal of Immunology, 2004, 173: 446–455.
E ﬃ cient Algorithms for Open-Loop Reach-Avoid Games (cid:73)

We consider a multi-player di ﬀ erential game, referred to as a reach-avoid game, in which one set of attacking players attempts to reach a target while avoiding both obstacles and capture by a set of defending players. Unlike pursuit-evasion games, in this reach-avoid game one set of players must not only consider the other set of players, but also the target. This complexity makes ﬁnding solutions to such games computationally challenging, especially as the number of players grows. We propose an approach to solving such games in an open-loop sense, where the players commit to their control actions prior to the beginning of the game. This reduces the dimensionality of the required computations, thus enabling e ﬃ cient computation of feasible solutions in real time for domains with arbitrary obstacle topologies. We describe two such formulations, each of which is conservative towards one side, and derive numerical algorithms based upon modiﬁed fast-marching methods (FMM) for computing their solutions. The formulations and algorithms are discussed in detail, along with simulation results demonstrating their use in scenarios with complex obstacle geometries and player speed proﬁles.
The Information Content of Municipal Financial Statements

The usefulness of ﬁnancial disclosures is a source of considerable debate in the municipal setting given their lack of timeliness. This paper empirically examines the extent to which municipal ﬁnancial disclosures have information content. Using the universe of annual ﬁnancial disclosures from 2009 to 2020, we show that trading activity in the secondary market for municipal bonds increases after the disclosures are ﬁled. The ﬁnding is apparent in both institutional and retail trades, and is more pronounced for timelier disclosures. Our results contrast with earlier research and suggest that participants in the market for municipal bonds perceive ﬁnancial disclosures to have informational value.
A Convex Speech Extraction Model and Fast Computation by the Split Bregman Method

—A fast speech extraction (FSE) method is presented using convex optimization made possible by pause detection of the speech sources. Sparse unmixing ﬁlters are sought by l 1 norm regularization and the split Bregman method. A subdivided split Bregman method is developed for efﬁciently estimating long reverberations in real room recordings. The speech pause detection is based on a binary mask source separation method. The FSE method is evaluated objectively and subjectively, and found to outperform existing blind speech separation approaches on both synthetic and room recorded data in terms of the overall computational speed and separation quality.
Empirical Research on Characterization of Pyramid Structure and Firm Performance

: The pyramid structure established by the ultimate owner becomes prevalent in Malaysian public listed firms. The typical characteristic of the pyramid structure is the divergence of cash flow rights and control rights which has significant impact on the firm performance. This study makes a contribution to the extant literature on governance issue and it provides an interesting perspective on a developing country specifically Malaysia. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine further the interplay between the characterization of the pyramid structure and the firm performance effects among Malaysian public listed firms. This study adapts Attig Model and employs Panel Generalised Least Square on 136 Malaysian pyramid firms over a twenty one-year period from 1990 to 2010. The empirical results provide support for the hypotheses proposed that the emergence of pyramid structure are more observable for firms with low CFR ratio and bring adverse effect on the firm performance resulting from large differences between cash flow rights and control rights. Future research needs to focus on identifying the dynamic endogeneity issue through two-way fixed effects (FE) and the two-step system generalized method of moments (GMM) that improve the generalizability of research.