Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does Hotel Ownership Structure Influence Capital Expenditures?

The purpose of this article was to provide an understanding of the ownership effect on firm investment in the hotel industry. Specifically, a linear relationship between institutional ownership and firm investment was investigated, while a nonlinear relationship between managerial ownership and firm investment was tested based on the convergence of interest and managerial entrenchment hypotheses. This study used two-stage least square (2SLS) regression for the model estimation because an endogenous relationship was suspected between managerial ownership and firm investment. The results of this study confirmed a positive relationship between institutional ownership and firm investment and an inverted U-shaped relationship between managerial ownership and firm investment with a maxima of 17.34%. The results of this study imply that firm investment is dependent on ownership structure. Furthermore, current shareholders should consider granting a stock ownership to managers up to 17.34% to encourage them to act in shareholders’ best interest while avoiding additional issues associated with high managerial ownership. The findings of this study provided empirical evidence that conventional short-term institutional investors hold a long-term perspective when investing in hotel firms, and managerial ownership is an effective measure to mitigate agency problems. Theoretically, this study provided empirical evidence that firm ownership has a causal effect on firm investment in the hotel industry. This finding is expected to expand our understanding of the corporate governance effect on firm behavior. Furthermore, this study confirmed the use of 2SLS regression in the presence of an endogenous relationship between firm ownership and investment.
Computer Software

While many nurses are aware that the term “software” denotes the programs of instructions by which the computer operates, most of us could probably benefit by knowing more about software basics—what constitutes a program, what constitutes a system, what distinguishes various types of systems, and levels of computer language, and so forth. Few of us are familiar with the types of computer languages in use today. Fewer still realize that the type of language used to program a system has a significant effect on the resources needed to develop and maintain application programs; that specific languages are best used for specific types of applications; or that the amount of flexibility inherent in a specific system depends largely on the language used to program it. This article attempts to inform nurses at the decision-making level about the characteristics of computer software and their implications as criteria for selecting software systems that perform the required functions as efficiently and economically as possible.
Living with sickle cell disease: traversing ‘race’ and identity

Objectives. Sickle cell disease (SCD) has a distinctive social history that continues to influence research and clinical practice related to the disease. Despite the historical link between SCD and concepts of ‘race’, there is limited empirical information on the relationships among SCD patients' ‘race’/ancestry/ethnicity/nationality, their beliefs and attitudes associated with these identities, and their SCD experiences and outcomes. We conducted a preliminary study to explore some of these relationships. Design. This US-based study comprised 46 adults with SCD, 20 males and 26 females, with an average age of 32.04 (18–59) years. Using US Census ‘race’ categories, 42 participants identified themselves as ‘Black or African American’, two as ‘Hispanic/Latino’, and two as ‘Other’. All participants completed a computer-based questionnaire that included measures of sociodemographics and ‘racial’ identity. Indicators of disease severity and frequency of hospitalizations were obtained from their medical records. Two open-ended questions explored the impact of SCD and ‘race’ on participants' experiences and another probed their understanding of the term ‘race’. Results. Overall, participants had positive regard for their ‘race’ and endorsed assimilation and humanist ideologies. ‘Racial’ identity was not related to disease severity or hospitalizations. Participants with non-US-born parents had higher levels of minority ideology than those with US-born parents (p<.01). Public regard beliefs were negatively associated with participants' perspective that SCD influenced how others perceived and treated them (r=−.35; p=.02). Centrality of ‘race’ and a nationalist ideology were positively associated with participants' belief that their ‘race’ influenced their experience with SCD (r=.31; p=.04 and r=.45; p=.001, respectively). The open-ended responses reveal that SCD and ‘race’ had varied effects on participants' experiences. Conclusion. This study illustrates the complexity of the interplay between ‘racial’ identity beliefs and patients' experiences with SCD, as well as the role of ‘race’ in these experiences. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Swiss Medical Board Mammography screening predictions for Switzerland: Importance of time-periods

Objectives In 2013, the Swiss Medical Board (SMB) concluded that for three breast cancer screens over 13 years in Switzerland, cost-effectiveness was negative, with no additional benefits in quality-adjusted life-years gained. We compared these suggested predicted effects with other estimates. Methods We used an extensively validated model on the natural history of breast cancer in Switzerland, comparing a 13-year time frame, a life-time perspective, and a continuous screening programme, per 10,000 Swiss women. Both approaches used the Swedish randomized controlled trials for the theoretical effect. Results Over 13 years, both approaches yield comparable life-years gained (56 versus 67), but in expectation in 10,000 women’s lifetimes 444 life-years are gained, and in a continuous screening programme (instead of three screens) 839 years. The SMB estimate of 56 life-years gained is counterweighted by 57 negative quality of life adjusted years, primarily resulting from a 5% annual loss for 10% of women, being false-positive results. International literature is consistent with more than four times lower losses on false-positives. The estimate of overdiagnosed cases in the 13-year time frame was four times higher than in the long-term perspective. Conclusions By restricting life-years gained to a 13-year time frame the SMB prediction on benefits of mammography screening is unrealistically low. Predicting long-term harms and benefits, specifically tailored to observations, regarding the clinical situation before screening commences, and possible data during a screening programme, are crucial for women, professionals, and policymakers.
The effect of crank rate strategy on peak aerobic power and peak physiological responses during arm crank ergometry

Abstract The main aim of this study was to determine whether the use of an imposed or freely chosen crank rate would influence submaximal and peak physiological responses during arm crank ergometry. Fifteen physically active men participated in the study. Their mean age, height, and body mass were 25.9 (s = 6.2) years, 1.80 (s = 0.10) m, and 78.4 (s = 6.1) kg, respectively. The participants performed two incremental peak oxygen consumption ([Vdot]O2peak) tests using an electronically braked ergometer. One test was performed using an imposed crank rate of 80 rev · min−1, whereas in the other the participants used spontaneously chosen crank rates. The order in which the tests were performed was randomized, and they were separated by at least 2 days. Respiratory data were collected using an on-line gas analysis system, and fingertip capillary blood samples (∼20 μl) were collected for the determination of blood lactate concentration. Heart rate was also recorded throughout the tests. Time to exhaustion was measured and peak aerobic power calculated. Submaximal data were analysed using separate two-way repeated-measures analyses of variance, while differences in peak values were analysed using separate paired t-tests. Variations in spontaneously chosen crank rate were assessed using a one-way analysis of variance with repeated measures. Agreement between the crank rate strategies for the assessment of peak values was examined by calculating intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) and 95% limits of agreement (95% LoA). While considerable between-participant variations in spontaneously chosen crank rate were observed, the mean value was not different (P > 0.05) from the imposed crank rate of 80 rev · min−1 at any point. No differences (P > 0.05) were observed for submaximal data between crank strategies. Furthermore, mean peak minute power [158 (s = 20) vs. 158 (s = 18) W], time to exhaustion [739 (s = 118) vs. 727 (s = 111) s], and [Vdot]O2peak[3.09 (s = 0.38) vs. 3.04 (s = 0.34) l · min−1] were similar for the imposed and spontaneously chosen crank rates, respectively. However, the agreement for the assessment of [Vdot]O2peak (ICC = 0.78; 95% LoA = 0.04 ± 0.50 l · min−1) between the cranking strategies was considered unacceptable. Our results suggest that either an imposed or spontaneously chosen crank rate strategy can be used to examine physiological responses during arm crank ergometry, although it is recommended that the two crank strategies should not be used interchangeably.
Topic sketch: Real time bursty topic detection from social media

The biggest platform for users is Twitter, it became so that it would be helpful for users to exchange their situations that happens in their daily life to their closest one. The fluctuation of similar tweets that halts within a span of time because of only a imploded topic even it glints the important incidents of group interest. For early detection of trending topics in Twitter as become an important research problem. Despite in the wealth of research work on topic modeling and analysis in Twitter, that remains a challenge to detect bursty topics in real-time. To overcome this problem, so proposed a Topic sketch, a sketch based topic model with a set of techniques to achieve real time detection. We tested our solutions on a Twitter stream with over 30 million tweets. In our approach, we show both efficiency and effectiveness in our experimental results. The Topic sketch on a single machine can handle 100's of million tweets per day, which is equal to total number of daily tweets in Twitter.
Coping With Genetic Testing for Breast Cancer Susceptibility

Objective: To examine how women cope with genetic testing for heightened susceptibility to breast cancer. Methods: Participants were 126 White women (age = 44 ± 9 years) who were participants in a larger study of genetic testing for risk of different chronic diseases. All women were at higher-than-average risk for breast cancer due to a personal and/or family history and were considering genetic testing. Distress (Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, Impact of Event Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale) was assessed at four assessments; one before and three after the decision to have genetic testing. The majority of women (n = 100) had testing. The follow-up assessments occurred at 1 week after receiving results (or 3–4 months after baseline if testing was not elected), and then at 3 and 6 months after the second assessment. Coping (Brief COPE) was measured at the first and third assessments. Results: Coping was relatively stable over time and did not vary as a function of genetic test results. Active coping strategies were used more often by women with a personal cancer history than by women without cancer. Use of avoidant coping was reliably and positively associated with distress over time independent of cancer history and test result. Conclusions: The identification of specific coping styles that were associated with more or less distress is useful as a means of identifying and targeting coping interventions and predicting which participants may be at risk for distress. BRCA 1 = breast cancer 1 gene; BRCA 2 = breast cancer 2 gene; CGP = Cancer Genetics Program; SCL-90R = Symptom Checklist-90 Revised; GSI = Global Severity Index; MANCOVA = multivariate analysis of covariance.
Suppression of STAT5 Functions in Liver, Mammary Glands, and T Cells in Cytokine-Inducible SH2-Containing Protein 1 Transgenic Mice

ABSTRACT Various cytokines utilize Janus kinase (JAK) and the STAT (signal transducers and activators of transcription) family of transcription factors to carry out their biological functions. Among STATs, two highly related proteins, STAT5a and STAT5b, are activated by various cytokines, including prolactin, growth hormone, erythropoietin, interleukin 2 (IL-2), and IL-3. We have cloned a STAT5-dependent immediate-early cytokine-responsive gene, CIS1 (encoding cytokine-inducible SH2-containing protein 1). In this study, we created CIS1 transgenic mice under the control of a β-actin promoter. The transgenic mice developed normally; however, their body weight was lower than that of the wild-type mice, suggesting a defect in growth hormone signaling. Female transgenic mice failed to lactate after parturition because of a failure in terminal differentiation of the mammary glands, suggesting a defect in prolactin signaling. The IL-2-dependent upregulation of the IL-2 receptor α chain and proliferation were partially suppressed in the T cells of transgenic mice. These phenotypes remarkably resembled those found in STAT5a and/or STAT5b knockout mice. Indeed, STAT5 tyrosine phosphorylation was suppressed in mammary glands and the liver. Furthermore, the IL-2-induced activation of STAT5 was markedly inhibited in T cells in transgenic mice, while leukemia inhibitory factor-induced STAT3 phosphorylation was not affected. We also found that the numbers of γδ T cells, as well as those of natural killer (NK) cells and NKT cells, were dramatically decreased and that Th1/Th2 differentiation was altered in transgenic mice. These data suggest that CIS1 functions as a specific negative regulator of STAT5 in vivo and plays an important regulatory role in the liver, mammary glands, and T cells.
Serum Predictors of Percent Lean Mass in Young Adults

Abstract Lustgarten, MS, Price, LL, Phillips, EM, Kirn, DR, Mills, J, and Fielding, RA. Serum predictors of percent lean mass in young adults. J Strength Cond Res 30(8): 2194–2201, 2016—Elevated lean (skeletal muscle) mass is associated with increased muscle strength and anaerobic exercise performance, whereas low levels of lean mass are associated with insulin resistance and sarcopenia. Therefore, studies aimed at obtaining an improved understanding of mechanisms related to the quantity of lean mass are of interest. Percent lean mass (total lean mass/body weight × 100) in 77 young subjects (18–35 years) was measured with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Twenty analytes and 296 metabolites were evaluated with the use of the standard chemistry screen and mass spectrometry–based metabolomic profiling, respectively. Sex-adjusted multivariable linear regression was used to determine serum analytes and metabolites significantly (p ⩽ 0.05 and q ⩽ 0.30) associated with the percent lean mass. Two enzymes (alkaline phosphatase and serum glutamate oxaloacetate aminotransferase) and 29 metabolites were found to be significantly associated with the percent lean mass, including metabolites related to microbial metabolism, uremia, inflammation, oxidative stress, branched-chain amino acid metabolism, insulin sensitivity, glycerolipid metabolism, and xenobiotics. Use of sex-adjusted stepwise regression to obtain a final covariate predictor model identified the combination of 5 analytes and metabolites as overall predictors of the percent lean mass (model R2 = 82.5%). Collectively, these data suggest that a complex interplay of various metabolic processes underlies the maintenance of lean mass in young healthy adults.
S-Nitrosylation Regulates Nuclear Translocation of Chloride Intracellular Channel Protein CLIC4*

Nuclear translocation of chloride intracellular channel protein CLIC4 is essential for its role in Ca2+-induced differentiation, stress-induced apoptosis, and modulating TGF-β signaling in mouse epidermal keratinocytes. However, post-translational modifications on CLIC4 that govern nuclear translocation and thus these activities remain to be elucidated. The structure of CLIC4 is dependent on the redox environment, in vitro, and translocation may depend on reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in the cell. Here we show that NO directly induces nuclear translocation of CLIC4 that is independent of the NO-cGMP pathway. Indeed, CLIC4 is directly modified by NO through S-nitrosylation of a cysteine residue, as measured by the biotin switch assay. NO enhances association of CLIC4 with the nuclear import proteins importin α and Ran. This is likely a result of the conformational change induced by S-nitrosylated CLIC4 that leads to unfolding of the protein, as exhibited by CD spectra analysis and trypsinolysis of the modified protein. Cysteine mutants of CLIC4 exhibit altered nitrosylation, nuclear residence, and stability, compared with the wild type protein likely as a consequence of altered tertiary structure. Moreover, tumor necrosis factor α-induced nuclear translocation of CLIC4 is dependent on nitric-oxide synthase activity. Inhibition of nitric-oxide synthase activity inhibits tumor necrosis factor α-induced nitrosylation and association with importin α and Ran and ablates CLIC4 nuclear translocation. These results suggest that S-nitrosylation governs CLIC4 structure, its association with protein partners, and thus its intracellular distribution.
High‐resolution diffusion imaging with DIFRAD‐FSE (Diffusion‐Weighted Radial Acquisition of Data With Fast Spin‐Echo) MRI

A novel MRI method, DIFRAD‐FSE (diffusion‐weighted radial acquisition of data with fast spin‐echo), is demonstrated that enables rapid, high‐resolution multi‐shot diffusion‐weighted MRI without significant artifacts due to motion. Following a diffusion‐weighting spin‐echo preparation period, multiple radial lines of Fourier data are acquired using spin‐echo refocusing. Images can be reconstructed from the radial data set using a magnitude‐only filtered back‐projection reconstruction algorithm that removes phase errors due to motion. Results from human brain imaging demonstrate the ability of DIFRAD‐FSE to acquire multiple radial lines of Fourier data each TR period without significant artifacts due to relaxation and to produce high‐resolution diffusion‐weighted MR images without significant artifacts from motion. Magn Reson Med 42:11–18, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Proposal of a new group of magnetorheological dampers

The article presents a construction and testing of a new family of magnetorheological dampers. The work began with testing currently used solutions, which exist inter alia in vibratory machines for example in washing machines. Basis on this job required damping parameters were obtained and then these parameters were used as input data in new devices designing process. A distinguishing feature of newly designed dampers is considerably reduction of volume of smart liquid in comparison to existing solutions described in the literature. Streszczenie. W artykule przedstawiono budowe i badania nowej rodziny tlumikow magnetoreologicznych. Prace rozpoczeto od przeprowadzenia badan obecnie wykorzystywanych konstrukcji tlumikow wiskotycznych, ktore stosowane są miedzy innymi w maszynach wibracyjnych na przyklad w pralkach automatycznych. W wyniku przeprowadzonych badan ustalono wymagane parametry tlumienia i uzyto ich, jako danych wejściowych w procesie projektowania nowego urządzenia. Charakterystyczną cechą nowo zaprojektowanych tlumikow jest znacznie zmniejszenie objetości stosowanych cieczy inteligentnych w stosunku do istniejących rozwiązan, opisanych w literaturze. (Propozycja nowej grupy tlumikow magnetoreologicznych)
Linking the Composition of Bacterial and Archaeal Communities to Characteristics of Soil and Flora Composition in the Atlantic Rainforest

The description of microbiomes as intrinsic fractions of any given ecosystem is an important issue, for instance, by linking their compositions and functions with other biotic and abiotic components of natural systems and hosts. Here we describe the archaeal and bacterial communities from soils of the Atlantic Rainforest in Brazil. Based on the comparison of three areas located along an altitudinal gradient—namely, Santa Virginia, Picinguaba and Restinga—we detected the most abundant groups of Bacteria (Acidobacteria and Proteobacteria) and Archaea (Thaumarchaeota, Crenarchaeota and Euryarchaeota). The particular composition of such communities in each of these areas was first evidenced by PCR-DGGE patterns [determined for Bacteria, Archaea and ammonia-oxidizing organisms—ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB)]. Moreover, sequence-based analysis provided a better resolution of communities, which indicated distinct frequencies of archaeal phyla and bacterial OTUs across areas. We found, as indicated by the Mantel test and multivariate analyses, a potential effect of the flora composition that outpaces the effect of soil characteristics (either physical and chemical) influencing the assembly of these microbial communities in soils. Our results indicate a collective role of the ecosystem underlying observed differences in microbial communities in these soils. Particularly, we posit that rainforest preservation also needs to take into account the maintenance of the soil biodiversity, as this is prompted to influence major processes that affect ecosystem functioning.
Early results of a flexible bifurcated endovascular stent-graft (Aorfix).

AIM First generation stent-grafts were associated with low applicability, high conversion rates due to technical failure and low durability. Second generation stent-grafts need to address these problems in order to secure endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) as a viable option to open repair in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). The early results of a second-generation stent-graft (Aorfix) for the treatment of AAA are reported. METHODS A European multi-centre study of the Aorfix bifurcated endovascular stent-graft was performed. The Aorfix stent-grafts were inserted according to a predefined clinical protocol in 4 centres experienced in EVAR and all data was collected prospectively on a central database. RESULTS A total of 24 patients underwent attempted aneurysm repair with the Aorfix stent-graft. There were no conversions to open repair. One technical failure resulted in insertion of another stent-graft. At 30-day follow-up there had been no secondary endovascular or open interventions. There were only 2 endoleaks, both of which were type II. CONCLUSIONS Aorfix currently offers early results, which are at least as good as other second-generation stent-grafts. It has given satisfactory results with highly angulated proximal necks and may improve the treatment outlook for these patients. Whether the unique design features increase durability and reduce long-term complications remains to be seen.