Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Legal Origin and Size Effects in European Listed Firms

This paper investigates the impact of legal tradition and firm size on investment performance for firms in 16 European countries. Europe as a region is of special interest in this sense since the legal systems differs widely within a concentrated geographical area. Anglo Saxon, German, French as well as Scandinavian variants of legal systems can be found in representative forms in Europe. Previous studies suggest that minority shareholders enjoy a higher degree of property rights in common law (Anglo Saxon) countries compared to civil law (French, German and Scandinavian) countries. Expropriation of minority shareholders may be observed as excessively large organizations and non transparent hierarchies of the management in the firm. This study differs from earlier studies by concentrating on the firm size and its effects on investment performance by connecting it to the legal origin in each of the 16 European countries included in the study. We find a negative relation between firm size and performance as expected for civil law countries and no effect for common law countries. However, for individual countries, the effects of firm size and legal origin on investment performance is ambiguous
Bridging legacy systems to model driven architecture

System evolution can be achieved effectively from architectural point of view, and one of the most exciting outcomes of those efforts on software architecture is OMG' Model Driven Architecture (MDA) which aims at a unified framework for system evolution targeting middleware-based modern distributed system. The advance of technologies in software design and implementation, however, cannot completely avoid the need for deep understanding of legacy systems for evolution. We are still stuck with incomplete high abstraction views when evolving the legacy systems. This paper presents an approach to bridging legacy systems to MDA, which has three contributions: a suitable architecture description language for architecture recovery, the relevant abstraction rules and the integration of reverse engineering with MDA.
Plasma membranes are poised for activation of raft phase coalescence at physiological temperature

Cell membranes are not randomly organized, but rather are populated by fluctuating nanoassemblies of increased translational order termed lipid rafts. This lateral heterogeneity can be biophysically extended because cooling formaldehyde-isolated plasma membrane preparations results in separation into phases similar to the liquid-ordered (Lo) and liquid-disordered (Ld) states seen in model membrane systems [Baumgart T, et al. (2007) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 104:3165–3170]. In this work we demonstrate that raft clustering, i.e., amplifying underlying raft-based connectivity to a larger scale, makes an analogous capacity accessible at 37°C. In plasma membranes at this temperature, cholera toxin-mediated cross-linking of the raft ganglioside GM1 induced the sterol-dependent emergence of a slower diffusing micrometer-scale phase that was enriched in cholesterol and selectively reorganized the lateral distribution of membrane proteins. Although parallels can be drawn, we argue that this raft coalescence in a complex biological matrix cannot be explained by only those interactions that define Lo formation in model membranes. Under this light, our induction of raft-phase separation suggests that plasma membrane composition is poised for selective and functional raft clustering at physiologically relevant temperature.
Assessing Perceptions of Recreation Center Service Quality: An Application of Recent Advancements in Service Quality Research

Like their private-sector countezparts, park and recreation managers have become increasingly interested in improving the quality of services provided to their customers. This trend has produced a spate of studies in both the marketing and the parks and recreation literature. Advances in the conceptualization and measurement of service quality are described. A measurement teclmique, SERVQUAL, was adapted to assess user's perceptions of services quality at eight county recreation centers. The original SERVQUAL instrument, and the subsequent variants used in park and recreation settings, were determined to be too generic to yield information with sufficient specificity to correct service performance in individual recreation centers in this study. This paper describes the procedures for developing a customized service quality survey instrument based on SERVQUAL's principles, then illustrates its uses in diagnosing and improving service quality. Management applications and recommendations for implementing SERVQUAL-based approaches in park and recreation settings are discussed.
The Determinants of Regulatory Responses to Risks from Financial Innovation: Post GFC Evidence for the G20

We explore the factors that shape the response of G20 countries to a Financial Stability Board (FSB) recommendation aimed at mitigating the risks from financial innovation. Using the FSB’s Implementation Monitoring Network Surveys, we develop an index of disclosed strength of regulatory response. We find that G20 countries have displayed large interpretive differences, little forward planning and have emphasized regulatory capabilities over firm capabilities when addressing the recommendation. Countries with strong central banks, more concentrated regulatory structures and bank-based financial systems responded more robustly, while countries with a large financial sector were marginally associated with a weaker response.
User Satisfaction with Search-driven Enterprise Portals

Advances in new information technology have considerably changed the end user computer environment. Therefore, it is appropriate to revalidate existing user satisfaction measurement instruments. Doll and Torkzadeh (1988) developed an instrument that measured end user satisfaction with now 20-year old information systems and which has been widely cited and used. This pilot study revalidates their measurement instrument on a state-of-the-art, search-driven enterprise portal.
14nm FinFET device electronic study

In this paper, wafers with (100) substrate and standard notch orientation were used. Our results showed that the mobility for FinFET PMOS device is almost 2 times higher than for the planar device, mainly due to the benefit from the (110) sidewalls channel. The CV curve showed the good quality of the gate dielectric. DIBL is 24mv/v and 72mv/decade for the swing for the short channel device at Vdd=0.8V. For PMOS devices without any stress engineering, normalizing the electrical parameters to the actual fin perimeter, we observed that the PMOS short channel device universal curve is 35% below the 14nm technology target but almost meets the expectation of devices without S/D epitaxial stress engineering and contact resistance optimization. The device performance and short channel effect behavior represent FinFET device advantages. The process optimization and embedded source/drain stress engineering implementation would further booster the FinFET device performance.
Virtualization Support for SLA-Driven Resource Distribution within Service Providers

Resource management is a key challenge that service providers must adequately face in order to ensure their profitability. This paper describes a proof-of-concept framework for facilitating resource management in service providers, which allows reducing costs and at the same time fulfilling the quality of service agreed with the customers. This is accomplished by means of virtualization, by providing application specific virtual environments and consolidating them in order to achieve a better utilization of the providers resources. In addition, our approach implements self-adaptive capabilities for dynamically distributing the providers resources among these virtual environments based on Service Level Agreements. The proposed solution has been implemented as a part of the SemanticallyEnhanced Resource Allocator prototype developed within the BREIN European project. The evaluation demonstrates that our prototype is able to react under changing conditions and avoid SLA violations by rescheduling efficiently the resources.
Quantification of Different Eubacteriumspp. in Human Fecal Samples with Species-Specific 16S rRNA-Targeted Oligonucleotide Probes

ABSTRACT Species-specific 16S rRNA-targeted, Cy3 (indocarbocyanine)-labeled oligonucleotide probes were designed and validated to quantify different Eubacterium species in human fecal samples. Probes were directed at Eubacterium barkeri, E. biforme, E. contortum, E. cylindroides(two probes), E. dolichum, E. hadrum, E. lentum, E. limosum, E. moniliforme, andE. ventriosum. The specificity of the probes was tested with the type strains and a range of common intestinal bacteria. With one exception, none of the probes showed cross-hybridization under stringent conditions. The species-specific probes were applied to fecal samples obtained from 12 healthy volunteers. E. biforme,E. cylindroides, E. hadrum, E. lentum, and E. ventriosum could be determined. All other Eubacterium species for which probes had been designed were under the detection limit of 107 cells g (dry weight) of feces−1. The cell counts obtained are essentially in accordance with the literature data, which are based on colony counts. This shows that whole-cell in situ hybridization with species-specific probes is a valuable tool for the enumeration ofEubacterium species in feces.
Investigation of the power-clock network impact on adiabatic logic

Adiabatic logic is architecture design style which seems to be a good candidate to reduce the power consumption of digital cores. One key difference is that the power supply is also the clock signal. A lot of work on different adiabatic logic families has been done but the impact of the power supply and the power-clock network still remains to be studied. In this paper, we investigate the power-clock network effect on adiabatic energy dissipation. We derive closed-form analytical formulas to represent the output signal voltage and energy dissipation while taking into account the parasitic impedance of the power-clock network with respect to switching frequency such that adiabatic conditions are still met. Experiments, based on simulation, show that the power-clock network impacts both the energy efficiency of the circuit and its frequency.
Brain Waves, Picture Sorts®, and Branding Moments

ABSTRACT This paper describes a method to identify potential branding moments in television commercials. It involves the convergence between two fundamentally different nonverbal moment-by-moment measurement techniques. The first is a picture-sorting technique. The second is brain-wave measurement. At the intersection of the two can be found special moments where the personalized meaning of the esthetic experience of an advertisement appears to flow into the positioning concept of a brand.
Analysis of electrocardiographic data following use of paroxetine in pediatric depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

OBJECTIVE This retrospective analysis of electrocardiographic (ECG) data investigated the cardiovascular effects of paroxetine 10-50 mg/day in pediatric patients (7-18 years of age). Data were collected from three 8- to 10-week, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trials of paroxetine in pediatric patients with major depressive disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder. METHOD Electrocardiograms (ECGs) were retrospectively retrieved from 63 study sites in the United States and Canada. Only patients with at least one screening and one on-treatment ECG were included. ECGs were analyzed for heart rate, QT interval corrected using Bazett's formula (QTcB) and Fridericia's formula (QTcF), at screening and while being treated. PR, R-R, and QRS intervals and the maximum change in QTcB and QTcF from screening to endpoint were determined. Clinically significant thresholds were defined a priori. RESULTS A total of 1,451 ECGs from 449 patients receiving placebo (n = 207), paroxetine (n = 200), or imipramine (n = 42) were analyzed. Treatment with paroxetine did not significantly increase QTcB or QTcF or any ECG parameters compared with placebo. Treatment with imipramine significantly increased heart rate and QTcB, R-R, and QRS intervals compared with either paroxetine or placebo. CONCLUSIONS Data from this retrospective study indicate that paroxetine (10-50 mg/day) is unlikely to be associated with significant ECG changes in medically healthy pediatric patients.
Dysregulated microRNAs in the pathogenesis and progression of cervical neoplasm

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in a variety of physiological as well as pathophysiological processes, including carcinogenesis. The aim of this study is to identify a distinct miRNA expression signature for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and to unveil individual miRNAs that may be involved in the development of cervical carcinoma. Expression profiling using quantitative real-time RT-PCR of 202 miRNAs was performed on micro-dissected high-grade CIN (CIN 2/3) tissues and compared to normal cervical epithelium. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering of the miRNA expression pattern displayed a distinct separation between the CIN and normal cervical epithelium samples. Supervised analysis identified 12 highly differentially regulated miRNAs, including miR-518a, miR-34b, miR-34c, miR-20b, miR-338, miR-9, miR-512-5p, miR-424, miR-345, miR-10a, miR-193b and miR-203, which distinguished the high-grade CIN specimens from normal cervical epithelium. This miRNA signature was further validated by an independent set of high-grade CIN cases. The same characteristic signature can also be used to distinguish cervical squamous cell carcinoma from normal controls. Target prediction analysis revealed that these dysregulated miRNAs mainly control apoptosis signaling pathways and cell cycle regulation. These findings contribute to understanding the role of microRNAs in the pathogenesis and progression of cervical neoplasm at the molecular level.
A Floating Memristor Emulator Based Relaxation Oscillator

In this paper, a flux-controlled memristor emulator with floating terminals by making use of four current conveyors is newly proposed. By replacing the three resistors in the positive and negative feedback loops of a typical relaxation oscillator respectively, three cases of memristor emulator based oscillating circuits are theoretically constructed and mathematically analyzed. To further probe the practicability and inherent features of the new memristor emulator and oscillator, experimental tests are carried out and the measured experimental results show differences from typical relaxation oscillators, this new memristor emulator based oscillator can provide novel and steady oscillating behaviors. The comparison of measured data with theoretical analysis is in good agreement, which further confirms the practicability of this new memristor emulator and oscillator.
Comparing Outgoing Female CEOs With Prior CEO Experience To Outgoing Female CEOs With No Prior CEO Experience

It is difficult for females to climb the corporate ladder to the CEO position. Most of the previous research examines the obstacles that prevent females from reaching top management positions and ultimately the top position of CEO. In this study we examine this issue from the opposite side, i.e., we examine CEO successions were the outgoing CEO is female and the incoming CEO is male. We distinguish between outgoing female CEO successors who have prior CEO experience and those who do not have prior CEO experience. We find that prior CEO experience is positively related to the outgoing female CEO total compensation in the year preceding the succession, positively related to firm performance and negatively related to the probability of firm bankruptcy in the three years preceding the succession. Prior CEO experience is also positively related to the percentage of female and ethnic minority directors on the board in the two years preceding the succession.
Exchange Rate and Interest Rate Volatility in a Target Zone: The Portuguese Case

This work examines the participation of the Portuguese economy in the ERM of the EMS based on some of the main predictions of the target zone literature. The exchange rate distribution reveals that the majority of the observations lie close to the central parity, thus rejecting one of the key predictions of the Krugman (1991) model. Using a M-GARCH model however we confirm that there is a trade-off between exchange rate volatility and interest rates differential volatility. These results express the increased credibility of the Portuguese monetary policy, due manly to the modernisation of the banking and financial system and to the progress made in terms of the disinflation process under an exchange rate target zone policy. In accordance to these results we can say that the participation of the Portuguese escudo in an exchange rate target zone was crucial to create the conditions of stability, credibility and confidence necessary for the adoption of a single currency.
Induction of macroautophagy by exogenously introduced calcium

Macroautophagy can be activated by a broad range of agents and cellular manipulations. In performing cellular transfection using the calcium phosphate method, we noticed that the calcium phosphate precipitates (CPP) could induce LC3 punctation. Because of the wide use of this transfection method in mammalian cells and the potential significance of calcium in autophagy induction, we investigated whether CPP could specifically induce macroautophagy. We found that CPP‐induced LC3 punctation was dependent on calcium and could be neutralized by an extracelluar or intracellular calcium chelator. The punctation was not due to nonspecific aggregation of LC3 since it depended on the amino acid residue Glycine120, which is specifically required for LC3 to conjugate to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). Consistently, there was also a significant increase of the PE‐conjugated form of LC3. Electron microscopy confirmed the accumulation of typical autophagosomes following CPP treatment. Flux analysis indicated that CPP induced but did not inhibit autophagic degradation. Finally CPP‐induced autophagy depended on the classical macroautophagy machinery including Beclin 1, the class III phosphoinositide‐3 kinase and Atg5. Our studies thus indicate that exogenously introduced calcium in the form of CPP could specifically induce macroautophagy, which may have the practical significance in the use of this agent for introducing genes into cells, and for studying the mechanism of autophagy as a model system.
Design of a 4–12GHz frequency doubler MMIC based on InGaP/GaAs HBT process

A compact monolithic InGaP/GaAs HBT frequency doubler has been presented. This prototype MMIC is capable to provide efficient conversion gain and high harmonic rejection from 4 to 12 GHz at the output. In this frequency doubler circuit, a novel push-push circuit configuration is used. We optimized the measurement system by using a Network Analyzer, instead of the traditional Spectrum Analyzer. The whole frequency doubler chip operates from a single +5 V supply voltage and consumes only 110 mA of current typically. The circuit has conversion gain of 14 dB over the output frequency range and provides saturated output power of 14dBm when the input power larger −18dBm. The chip also achieves excellent fundamental and third harmonic frequency rejection better than 28 dBc. The total size of this compact chip is 1.5 mm2. Thus, this frequency doubler can be used as a low-cost insertion block to achieve any stable local-oscillation signals by multiplying the high quality voltage controlled oscillators at low frequencies.
Microclimate is an independent risk factor for the development of intraoperatively acquired pressure ulcers in the park‐bench position: A prospective observational study

Preventing pressure ulcers is important in patients undergoing procedures in the park‐bench position. We hypothesized that the microclimate around the skin is a significant risk factor for developing pressure ulcers. This research continuously assessed factors of the microclimate in terms of skin temperature and perspiration as well as the interface pressure in order to determine whether the microclimate is an independent risk factor for the development of park‐bench position‐related pressure ulcers (PBP‐PUs). A prospective observational study was conducted among patients undergoing elective surgery in the park‐bench position at a general hospital in the metropolitan area of Japan between April and November 2014. Factors of the microclimate, including skin temperature and perspiration, in addition to the interface pressure were continuously measured throughout surgery. Twenty‐nine patients were analyzed (mean age 44.4 ± 13.2 years, male 44.8%). Of these 29 patients, seven (24.1%) developed Category I PBP‐PUs. The change in skin temperature from baseline to the end of surgery (2.7 ± 0.3 °C vs. 1.9 ± 0.8 °C) and the average peak pressure (119.1 ± 36.8 mmHg vs. 94.5 ± 23.1 mmHg) were significantly higher in the patients with PBP‐PUs than in those without PBP‐PUs. There were no significant differences in the amount of perspiration between the two groups. A hierarchical logistic regression analysis showed that the change in skin temperature was significantly related to the development of PBP‐PUs (unit = 0.1 °C: odds ratio 1.44, 95% confidential interval 1.09–2.33) when adjusted for the average peak pressure and length of surgery. Our results suggest that a change in skin temperature toward a higher value is an independent risk factor for the development of PBP‐PUs. Proper intraoperative management of skin temperature may therefore be a promising candidate as a preventive method against PBP‐PU development.
Exploring the Impacts of Fashion Blog Type and Message Type on Female Consumer Response Towards the Brand

The current study examines the influences of blog type and blog message type on consumers’ perceptions of brand credibility and brand similarity. Additionally, the study seeks to understand the interaction effects of blog type and message type on brand credibility and brand similarity and on consumer engagement with a blog. The findings reveal that message type, specifically product message, is an important consideration when marketers want to illustrate similarities between the brand and consumers. Additionally, it was found that product messages should be considered when encouraging consumer engagement with a blog. However, blog type did not have an effect on consumer perceptions of brand credibility and similarity or consumer engagement.