Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An empirical investigation of the relationship between corporate governance and firm performance: evidence from Ghana.

This thesis investigates the relationship between corporate governance and firm performance prompted by the Ghanaian Code introduced in 2003. Using a sample of the Ghanaian listed firms from 2000-2009 and the directors of these same firms, the thesis attempts to achieve four specific objectives. The first objective is to measure the degree of compliance with the Ghanaian Code provisions from the Ghanaian listed firms annual reports during the whole, pre 2003 and post 2003 introduction of the code. The second objective is to empirically investigate the relationship between the degree of compliance with the Ghanaian Code and firm performance. The third objective is to empirically evaluate the perceptions of the directors of the Ghanaian listed firms on the adoption of the Ghanaian Code and its benefit to their firms performance. The final objective is to critically examine whether the use of multiple governance data has the potential to affect the research on governance-performance relationship findings. Given the multiple governance data from the Ghanaian listed firms annual reports and the directors responses, the results based on the degree of compliance with the Ghanaian Code suggest a statistically significant improvement from pre 2003 period to post 2003 period. This evidence is supported by the directors responses who noted that the standard of corporate governance has improved in their firms after the introduction of the Ghanaian Code. Also, the regression results based on the annual report data suggest that there is a statistically significant and positive relationship between the Ghanaian corporate governance index (GCGI) and profitability across Ghanaian listed firms, evidence supported by the directors responses who noted that the full adoption of the Ghanaian Code is beneficial to their firms performance. By contrast, the regression results based on the CEO duality, board size, proportion of non-executive directors, audit and remuneration committees suggest either statistically significant or no relationship between each of the five mechanisms and firm performance. These results are not supported in most cases by the directors responses where they showed support for the adoption of these mechanisms except board size as beneficial to their firms performance. Overall, the empirical analysis suggests a consensus between the regression results and the directors opinions on the full adoption of the Ghanaian Code rather than the selective adoption of its specific provisions where there is disagreement. These results raise questions about the effectiveness of the selective adoption of a particular code provision to improve firm performance.
Effect of short-term fat adaptation on high-intensity training.

PURPOSE To determine the effect of short-term (3-d) fat adaptation on high-intensity exercise training in seven competitive endurance athletes (maximal O2 uptake 5.0 +/- 0.5 L x min(-1), mean +/-SD). METHODS Subjects consumed a standardized diet on d-0 then, in a randomized cross-over design, either 3-d of high-CHO (11 g x kg(-1)d(-1) CHO, 1 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) fat; HICHO) or an isoenergetic high-fat (2.6 g CHO x kg(-1) x d(-1), 4.6 g FAT x kg(-1) x d(-1); HIFAT) diet separated by an 18-d wash out. On the 1st (d-1) and 4th (d-4) day of each treatment, subjects completed a standardized laboratory training session consisting of a 20-min warm-up at 65% of VO2peak (232 +/- 23W) immediately followed by 8 x 5 min work bouts at 86 +/- 2% of VO2peak (323 +/- 32 W) with 60-s recovery. RESULTS Respiratory exchange ratio (mean for bouts 1, 4, and 8) was similar on d-1 for HIFAT and HICHO (0.91 +/- 0.04 vs 0.92 +/- 0.03) and on d-4 after HICHO (0.92 +/- 0.03) but fell to 0.85 +/- 0.03 (P < 0.05) on d-4 after HIFAT. Accordingly, the rate of fat oxidation increased from 31 +/- 13 on d-1 to 61 +/- 25 micromol x kg(-1) x min(-1) on d-4 after HIFAT (P < 0.05). Blood lactate concentration was similar on d-1 and d-4 of HICHO and on d-1 of HIFAT (3.5 +/- 0.9 and 3.2 +/- 1.0 vs 3.7 +/- 1.2 mM) but declined to 2.4 +/- 0.5 mM on d-4 after HIFAT (P < 0.05). Ratings of perception of effort (legs) were similar on d-1 for HIFAT and HICHO (14.8 +/- 1.5 vs 14.1 +/- 1.4) and on d-4 after HICHO (13.8 +/- 1.8) but increased to 16.0 +/- 1.3 on d-4 after HIFAT (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS 1) competitive endurance athletes can perform intense interval training during 3-d exposure to a high-fat diet, 2) such exercise elicited high rates of fat oxidation, but 3) compared with a high-carbohydrate diet, training sessions were associated with increased ratings of perceived exertion.
Caudal Mandibular Bone Height and Buccal Cortical Bone Thickness Measured by Computed Tomography in Healthy Dogs.

OBJECTIVE To characterize bone height and buccal cortical bone thickness of the caudal mandible of healthy dogs. STUDY DESIGN Prospective original study. SAMPLE POPULATION Client-owned dogs (n = 36). METHODS Dogs were distributed by weight into 3 groups (<10, 10-20, >20 kg). Thirteen transverse plane computed tomography images were selected for each dog based on anatomic landmarks from the 4th premolar (PM4) through the 2nd molar. On each image, bone thickness was measured along the buccal surface of both mandibles from the alveolar margin to the ventral border in 3 mm increments. The number of 3 mm increments were recorded as an estimation of mandibular height. RESULTS Buccal bone was generally thicker ventrally in the area studied with decreasing bone thickness over both roots of PM4 and the mesial root of the 1st molar (M1). Cortical bone thickness of <2.0 mm was measured across all groups at most locations 3 mm ventral from the alveolar margin. Mandibular bone height demonstrated significantly fewer (P < .05) 3 mm increments over the distal root of M1 in dogs >10 kg compared with the number of observations at the immediately mesial and distal locations. CONCLUSION Thin cortical bone overlying the mesial and distal roots of PM4 and the mesial root of M1 limits use of these areas for application of monocortical anchorage devices. Decreased mandibular bone height at mandibular M1 may create a stress riser at this location, which along with thin cortical bone may explain why this is a common area for mandibular fracture.
digit—a tool for detection and identification of genomic interchromosomal translocations

Abstract Structural variations (SVs) in genomic DNA can have profound effects on the evolution of living organisms, on phenotypic variations and on disease processes. A critical step in discovering the full extent of structural variations is the development of tools to characterize these variations accurately in next generation sequencing data. Toward this goal, we developed a software pipeline named digit that implements a novel measure of mapping ambiguity to discover interchromosomal SVs from mate-pair and pair-end sequencing data. The workflow robustly handles the high numbers of artifacts present in mate-pair sequencing and reduces the false positive rate while maintaining sensitivity. In the simulated data set, our workflow recovered 96% of simulated SVs. It generates a self-updating library of common translocations and allows for the investigation of patient- or group-specific events, making it suitable for discovering and cataloging chromosomal translocations associated with specific groups, traits, diseases or population structures.
Acute Complications of Myocardial Infarction in the Current Era

Coronary heart disease is a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The incidence of mechanical complications of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has gone down to less than 1% since the advent of percutaneous coronary intervention, but although mortality resulting from AMI has gone down in recent years, the burden remains high. Mechanical complications of AMI include cardiogenic shock, free wall rupture, ventricular septal rupture, acute mitral regurgitation, and right ventricular infarction. Detailed knowledge of the complications and their risk factors can help clinicians in making an early diagnosis. Prompt diagnosis with appropriate medical therapy and timely surgical intervention are necessary for favorable outcomes.
The motivational properties of hope in goal striving

ABSTRACT We argue that hope is not an expectancy based on beliefs about pathways to desired goals and personal capacities to act on them, but an experience of the mere possibility of a desired outcome. We propose that in the latter sense, hope has unique motivational consequences for goal striving. Specifically, we predicted that hope buffers against the detrimental impact of negative feedback on goal-progress. The results of the two studies confirmed this prediction. In Study 1, we measured participants’ hopes of attaining a weight-loss goal. In Study 2, we induced hope at solving an unsolvable mathematical puzzle. In both studies, receiving negative feedback on goal-progress resulted in lower levels of success (Study 1) and persistence (Study 2) in goal-striving, but not for participants who experienced hope. We discuss the role of hope as an affective mechanism that functions to regulate energy expenditure in goal-striving.
CD 158 Receptor Controls Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Susceptibility to Tumor-Mediated Activation-Induced Cell Death by Interfering with Fas Signaling 1

Renal cell carcinoma-infiltrating lymphocytes express killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) that inhibit antitumor CD8 T-cell functions and may contribute to local self-tolerance. In the present study, to better examine the functional consequences of KIR engagement on CTL– tumor interactions, we investigated the influence of KIR2DL1/CD158a on CTL survival. We show that both KIR and KIR antigen-specific CTLs express Fas and Fas ligand and were susceptible to activation-induced cell death (AICD) triggered by coated anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies. In KIR CTLs, anti-CD158a monoclonal antibodies partially inhibited antiCD3-induced AICD. Interestingly, T-cell receptor activation by cognate tumor cells induced apoptosis in KIR CTLs but not in KIR CTLs. In addition, co-engagement of T-cell receptors and KIRs by tumor cells decreased tumor-mediated CTL apoptosis. Blocking the interaction of KIR/HLA-Cw4 resulted in the restoration of tumor-induced AICD. Most importantly, our data indicate that KIR engagement affected two proximal events of Fas signaling pathway, a sustained c-FLIP-L induction and a decrease in caspase 8 activity. These studies provide evidence that tumor cells selectively favor the local persistence of nonfunctional KIR CTLs by promoting their survival.
FORECASTING THE VOLATILITY OF HEALTH CARE STOCKS

This paper compares the performance of two popular volatility models for making out-of-sample forecasts of health care stock market volatility. We focus on portfolios designed to represent the three profit-motivated groups: providers of services, manufacturers of products, and third-party payors. Our results are consistent with Gokcan (2000) in the sense that the risk/return trade off inherent in the changing health care industry may be similar to the risk/return trade off of emerging markets. Implications for linear vs. nonlinear volatility models are discussed.
Sleep‐disordered breathing in a predominantly African‐American pediatric population

The goal of this study was to characterize sleep and respiratory parameters in children with sleep‐disordered breathing (SDB) as compared to children without SDB. Data are from 198 children and adolescents referred for sleep center evaluation, 128 of whom were diagnosed with SDB. In children with SDB, obesity (> 95% wgt for age) was more common than being severely underweight (< 5% wgt for age), but only the older children with SDB were heavier than age‐matched normal sleepers. Children with SDB had increased EEG arousals; sleep architecture was not otherwise significantly different from the non‐SDB group. African‐American children with SDB had significantly greater oxygen desaturation with obstructive events compared to Caucasian and Latino children. It appears that the role of obesity as a risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) increases in children above the age of 8‐years. Additionally, African‐American children with SDB may be at increased risk for hypoxemia and cardiovascular consequences of SDB.
Thiazolidinedione and Metformin Use and the Risk of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia in Veterans with Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND Chronic inflammation is important in the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and certain oral antidiabetic medications have anti-inflammatory properties. The purpose of this study was to determine if use of thiazolidinediones or metformin was associated with a reduced risk of requiring medical or surgical treatment for BPH compared to sulfonylureas among diabetic men. METHODS We constructed a retrospective cohort of 192,457 male veterans newly prescribed either rosiglitazone, pioglitazone, metformin, or a sulfonylurea. We used Cox proportional hazard regression to assess the association between thiazolidinedione or metformin use and the risk of requiring medical or surgical treatment for BPH compared to sulfonylurea use. New BPH treatment was defined by either a new prescription for a α-1 blocker or 5α-reductase inhibitors or a surgical procedure indicated for severe BPH. RESULTS In 259,995 person-years of follow up we identified 14,690 new treatments for BPH. After adjusting for covariates including age, HbA1c, and body mass index, we found no association between rosiglitazone (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.02, 95% CI 0.86, 1.20), pioglitazone (aHR 0.79, 95% CI 0.45, 1.38), or metformin use (aHR 0.99, 95% CI 0.94, 1.03) and risk of new medical or surgical treatment for BPH compared to sulfonylureas. Analyses ignoring prescriptions for non-selective α-1 blockers (terazosin, doxazosin, prazosin) from our BPH case definition (n = 11,079), yielded similar results. CONCLUSIONS In this large cohort, we observed no association between the use of thiazolidinediones or metformin and new medical or surgical treatment for BPH compared to sulfonylureas.
Can Investors Benefit from International Diversification without Trading Abroad

This paper examines whether investors can benefit from international diversification without trading abroad. This study uses monthly return data from 1988 to 2003 for S&P 500 Index, Lehman Brothers U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, MSCI ACWorld ex U.S Index and DJIA Index. The original return correlations, skewness and kurtosis, Sharpe performance measure, and QOS-15 optimization reports provide strong evidence that gains beyond those attainable through homemade diversification have become statistically and economically insignificant. However, the extreme portfolio weights in this optimization indicates that the asset with the higher expected return like the DJIA Index dominates the optimization, and clouds the effect of correlations which are far more relevant to my study. As such, I adopt two corrections that are motivated by a "reverse optimization" approach suggested by Sharpe (2002). The corrected findings do not support EHH's conclusion, that is, trade abroad is still necessary to gain the benefits of international diversification.
Rarely Diagnosed Cases of Fibrosarcoma Breast-A Case Series

Breast sarcomas are rare tumors with an incidence of <1% of all breast malignancy [1]. Primary breast sarcomais defined as malignancy originating from mesenchymal tissue of the breast and does not include those arising from skin, muscle, and adjacent bones. They are similar to soft tissue sarcomas elsewhere in the body. Primary fibrosarcoma of the breast is a very rare tumor described in literature, accounting for 16% of all soft tissue sarcomas of the breast (2). Phyllodes tumours of the breast are commonly classified as benign tumours and rarely as borderline or malignant. Cases have been reported where originally benign tumours developed malignant features with recurrences [3]. Primary sarcomas of the breast are extremelyrare and account for less than 0.1% of all malignant tumours of the breast [4], of which the conversion of a phyllodes tumour to sarcoma of the breast is even rarer and only one such case has ever been reported [5].
Advanced fluorescence microscopy techniques for the life sciences

The development of super-resolved fluorescence microscopy, for which the Nobel Prize was awarded in 2014, has been a topic of interest to physicists and biologists alike. It is inevitable that numerous questions in biomedical research cannot be answered by means other than direct observation. In this review, advances to fluorescence microscopy are covered in a widely accessible fashion to facilitate its use in decisions related to its acquisition and utilization in biomedical research.
The Insurance Effect of Auditing in a Regulated and Low Litigation Risk Market: An Empirical Analysis of Big 4 Clients in China

Auditing provides a monitoring mechanism that signals to investors the true quality of financial reports (Titman and Truement 1986). However, in emerging markets in which ownership is concentrated and legal enforcement of contracts is weak, it is not clear whether auditors play a monitoring role to protect investors’ interests. In this study, we examine the insurance function of auditing services, a function that is widely and implicitly assumed to be one of the benefits of independent audits. More specifically, we examine whether auditing has an insurance function in the regulated Chinese market, and if so, whether the type of insurance provided in the Chinese market is similar to that provided in more mature markets: insurance that confers on investors the right to claim reimbursement from an auditor where they suffer a loss as a result of relying on the auditor’s statements. We argue that Chinese companies are subject to regulatory risk which can be significantly reduced by hiring a Big 4 auditor. When a Big 4 firm lobbies a regulatory body to defend itself against possible accusations in a case involving a financial reporting scandal, it will invariably feel obliged to play down the severity of the scandal, which will in turn reduce the likelihood that its client will be penalized by the regulators. We first demonstrate the insurance effect of audits by analyzing two cases in which clients of local and Big 4 firms were discovered to have misrepresented their financial results in a similar way, but ended up facing substantially different penalties. We then conduct large sample tests to examine whether hiring Big 4 auditors helps to reduce the risk of being penalized by regulators. The empirical results are consistent with our hypotheses. We also show that when legal enforcement is strengthened, clients with no identifiable reason to hire a Big 4 firm have less incentive to retain their auditors.
Comparative Metagenomic and Metatranscriptomic Analysis of Hindgut Paunch Microbiota in Wood- and Dung-Feeding Higher Termites

Termites effectively feed on many types of lignocellulose assisted by their gut microbial symbionts. To better understand the microbial decomposition of biomass with varied chemical profiles, it is important to determine whether termites harbor different microbial symbionts with specialized functionalities geared toward different feeding regimens. In this study, we compared the microbiota in the hindgut paunch of Amitermes wheeleri collected from cow dung and Nasutitermes corniger feeding on sound wood by 16S rRNA pyrotag, comparative metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses. We found that Firmicutes and Spirochaetes were the most abundant phyla in A. wheeleri, in contrast to N. corniger where Spirochaetes and Fibrobacteres dominated. Despite this community divergence, a convergence was observed for functions essential to termite biology including hydrolytic enzymes, homoacetogenesis and cell motility and chemotaxis. Overrepresented functions in A. wheeleri relative to N. corniger microbiota included hemicellulose breakdown and fixed-nitrogen utilization. By contrast, glycoside hydrolases attacking celluloses and nitrogen fixation genes were overrepresented in N. corniger microbiota. These observations are consistent with dietary differences in carbohydrate composition and nutrient contents, but may also reflect the phylogenetic difference between the hosts.
Prediction state of charge of Ni-MH battery pack using support vector machines for Hybrid Electric Vehicles

This paper investigates the use of a support vector machine (SVM) to predict the state of charge (SOC) of a large-scale Ni-MH battery pack in hybrid electric vehicles (HEV). Estimate the state of charge (SOC) is very essential for HEVspsila energy monitoring and management systems. The nonlinear SOC dynamics is represented by a nonlinear autoregressive moving average with exogenous variables (NARMAX) model that is implemented using SVM regression model. Accuracy of the presented SVM method has been verified by UDDS and US06, which a composite aggressive driving cycle provided by U.S. Department of Energypsilas Hybrid Electrical Vehicle test program. The results showed that SVM is able to estimate the SOC with high accuracy and high noise tolerating ability.
Biosynthesis of cell wall peptidoglycan and polysaccharide antigens by protoplasts of type III group B Streptococcus

The formation of a nascent peptidoglycan-group-specific antigen of type III group B Streptococcus at the cell membrane level was demonstrated with an M-1 mutanolysin-prepared protoplast system. Protoplasts of group B streptococci in suitably stabilized medium (20% sucrose) readily incorporated [3H]acetate into cell surface macromolecules. Four major polysaccharides were isolated from the protoplast cultural supernatant fluid: the peptidoglycan group-specific antigen polymer, the group B-specific antigen, and the low-molecular-weight and high-molecular-weight forms of the type III polysaccharide antigen. Biosynthesis of all four polymers was not affected by the action of chloramphenicol, indicating protein synthesis was not required for the production of polysaccharide in this system. However, all but the low-molecular-weight type III antigen were inhibited by the action of bacitracin, suggesting that three of the polymers share a common synthesis-assembly site in the membrane. Attachment of the high-molecular-weight antigen to the nascent peptidoglycan-group B antigen complex did not occur in the protoplast system, suggesting that a more complex cell wall matrix may be necessary before linkage of the high-molecular-weight antigen takes place.
Observations of Microvessels in the Brain with Alzheimer's Disease by the Scanning Electron Microscopy

Abstract: Microvessels in the brain with Alzheimer's disease and those of a control group were observed by means of the scanning electron microscopy. There were no morphological differences between the relatively large arteries in Alzheimer's disease and those of the control. Remarkable differences existed in terminal arterioles and capillaries. In Alzheimer's brain, the terminal arterioles frequently had focal constrictions and smooth muscle cells with an irregular shape and arrangement, and the capillaries also showed an irregular abluminal surface and irregular constriction and dilatation along their paths. In the control brain, there were no changes such as those observed in Alzheimer's disease. The findings suggest that diffuse neuronal loss in Alzheimer's cerebral cortex might be induced by circulatory disturbance through the changed micro‐vessels.