Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Voluntary disclosure, long-horizon investors and shareholder familiarity : an online investor relations perspective

Empirical evidence indicates that companies that reduce information asymmetry by increased voluntary disclosures achieve several benefits, such as lower cost of capital, improved pricing, and liquidity of their shares. Despite the possibility of such benefits, many studies report varying degrees of voluntary disclosure behaviour that is attributable to various factors. Recent studies indicate that investors’ investment horizon has a significant effect on actions taken by management. Companies with predominantly short-horizon investors spend less on research and development, invest in shorter-term projects that are less profitable than longer-term projects, and are more likely to manipulate earnings to meet short-term earnings expectations. This study investigates whether investors’ investment horizon has an effect on the quality of companies’ information environment. Long-horizon investors should be familiar with their investee company’s risks and rewards, using both their own internal information gathering processes and the cumulative information disclosed by management over time. Moreover, over the course of a long-term relationship, they can become familiar with management’s capability to deliver long-term sustainable returns. Long-horizon investors should therefore be less concerned with short-term fluctuations of earnings and management’s public explanations and disclosures thereof. I hypothesise that higher (lower) proportions of long-horizon investors are associated with lower (higher) quality voluntary disclosure. The shareholder familiarity hypothesis was tested in this study, using an ordinary least squares regression. Voluntary disclosures were observed via the channel of companies’ websites. A checklist was compiled of best practices for online investor relations, and content analyses were conducted on the websites of 205 companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Shareholder familiarity was proxied by shareholder stability, measured over nine years. The stability measure was lagged by one year to create a temporal difference between the shareholder profile and disclosure behaviour. I found that companies with a profile of unstable investors that are larger, younger, dual-listed and have a Big4 auditor have higher quality online
Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products: Risks, Challenges, and Solutions

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) encompass a large class of chemical contaminants that can originate from human usage and excretions and veterinary appli-cations. These pollutants have captured the attention of scientists, governments, and the public as several studies across the globe reveal their widespread occurrence in low-level concentrations in wastewater and the aquatic environment. Most of the research on PPCPs has been generated from efforts in highly developed countries, primarily North America and Europe, although investigations and reports are emerging from Southeast Asia and China. With the increased concern of potential threats triggered by the occurrence of these chemicals in the environment, environmental risk assessment (ERA) strate - gies for such compounds have considerably evolved over the past decade. Regulations are in effect or planned in several western nations, however, there is no global standard for conducting ERAs. As the scope of the problem evolves, substantial research will be imperative to address these contaminants and their occurrence in the environment. This chapter will discuss the evolution of the risk associated with the occurrence of PPCPs in the environment, the challenges faced by their existence here, and the colloquy about solutions to address this escalating issue.
Silica microcapsules from diatoms as new carrier for delivery of therapeutics.

AIM This study explores the use of natural silica-based porous material from diatoms, known as diatomaceous earth, as a drug carrier of therapeutics for implant- and oral-delivery applications. MATERIALS & METHODS To prove this concept, two drugs models were used and investigated: a hydrophobic (indomethacin) and hydrophilic (gentamicin). RESULTS & DISCUSSION Results show the effectiveness of diatom microcapsules for drug-delivery application, showing 14-22 wt% drug loading capacity and sustained drug release over 2 weeks. Two steps in the drug release from diatom structures were observed: the first, rapid release (over 6 h is attributed to the surface deposited drug) and the second, slow and sustained release over 2 weeks with zero order kinetics. CONCLUSION These results confirm that natural material based on diatom silica can be successfully applied as a drug carrier for both oral and implant drug-delivery applications, offering considerable potential to replace existing synthetic nanomaterials.
Carcinogenicity of Methyl‐Tertiary Butyl Ether in Gasoline

Abstract: Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) was added to gasoline on a nationwide scale in 1992 without prior testing of adverse, toxic, or carcinogenic effects. Since that time, numerous reports have appeared describing adverse health effects of individuals exposed to MTBE, both from inhalation of fumes in the workplace and while pumping gasoline. Leakage of MTBE, a highly water‐soluble compound, from underground storage tanks has led to contamination of the water supply in many areas of the United States. Legislation has been passed by many states to prohibit the addition of MTBE to gasoline. The addition of MTBE to gasoline has not accomplished its stated goal of decreasing air pollution, and it has posed serious health risks to a large portion of the population, particularly the elderly and those with respiratory problems, asthma, and skin sensitivity. Reports of animal studies of carcinogenicity of MTBE began to appear in the 1990s, prior to the widespread introduction of MTBE into gasoline. These reports were largely ignored. In ensuing years, further studies have shown that MTBE causes various types of malignant tumors in mice and rats. The National Toxicology Program (NTP) Board of Scientific Counselors' Report on Carcinogens Subcommittee met in December 1998 to consider listing MTBE as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen. ” In spite of recommendations from Dr. Bailer, the primary reviewer, and other scientists on the committee, the motion to list MTBE in the report was defeated by a six to five vote, with one abstention. On the basis of animal studies, it is widely accepted that if a chemical is carcinogenic in appropriate laboratory animal test systems, it must be treated as though it were carcinogenic in humans. In the face of compelling evidence, NTP Committee members who voted not to list MTBE as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen” did a disservice to the general public; this action may cause needless exposure of many to health risks and possibly cancers.
Ziprasidone in the treatment of borderline personality disorder: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of ziprasidone in the treatment of adult patients with borderline personality disorder. METHOD Sixty DSM-IV borderline personality disorder patients were included from March 2004 to April 2006 in a 12-week, single-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The subjects were randomly assigned to ziprasidone or placebo in a 1:1 ratio following a 2-week baseline period. The Clinical Global Impressions scale for use in borderline personality disorder patients (CGI-BPD) was the primary outcome measure, and other scales and self-reports related to affect, behavior, psychosis, general psychopathology domains, and clinical safety were included. RESULTS Analysis of variance indicated no statistically significant differences between ziprasidone and placebo in the CGI-BPD. Nor were significant differences observed between groups in depressive, anxiety, psychotic, or impulsive symptoms. The mean daily dose of ziprasidone was 84.1 mg/day (SD = 54.8; range, 40-200). The drug was seen to be safe, and no serious adverse effects were observed. CONCLUSION This trial failed to show a significant effect of ziprasidone in patients with borderline personality disorder. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00635921.
Attributes Associated with Adherence to Glaucoma Medical Therapy and its Effects on Glaucoma Outcomes: An Evidence-Based Review and Potential Strategies to Improve Adherence

ABSTRACT The treatment paradigm in glaucoma classically starts with exhausting all medical therapy prior to proceeding with laser or incisional surgery, although laser-first and surgery-first strategies have been explored in randomized clinical trials. Although glaucoma drops are proven to work well to lower intraocular pressure, slow the conversion from ocular hypertension, and slow the progression of disease in early open angle glaucoma, adherence to treatment is likely optimum in the randomized clinical trials that support these claims. In real-world scenarios, medical therapy often fails and practitioners are forced to proceed with more invasive treatment modalities to slow the progression of this blinding disease. This review aims to take an evidence-based approach to study the risk factors for poor adherence in glaucoma patients, to determine whether poor adherence is, in fact, associated with worse outcomes, and to seek potential strategies to improve adherence in these patients.
Lack of correlation between soluble CD4-induced shedding of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 exterior envelope glycoprotein and subsequent membrane fusion events

The noncovalent association of the gp120 and gp41 envelope glycoproteins of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is disrupted by soluble CD4 binding, resulting in shedding of the gp120 exterior envelope glycoprotein. This observation has led to the speculation that interaction of gp120 with the CD4 receptor triggers shedding of the exterior envelope glycoprotein, allowing exposure of gp41 domains necessary for membrane fusion steps involved in virus entry or syncytium formation. To test this hypothesis, a set of HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein mutants were used to examine the relationship of soluble CD4-induced shedding of the gp120 glycoprotein to envelope glycoprotein function in syncytium formation and virus entry. All mutants with a threefold or greater reduction in CD4-binding ability exhibited marked decreases in gp120 shedding in response to soluble CD4, even though several of these mutants exhibited significant levels of envelope glycoprotein function. Conversely, most fusion-defective mutants with wild-type gp120-CD4 binding affinity, including those with changes in the V3 loop, efficiently shed gp120 following soluble CD4 binding. Thus, soluble CD4-induced shedding of gp120 is not a generally useful marker for conformational changes in the HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins necessary for the virus entry or syncytium formation processes. Some gp120 mutants, despite being expressed on the cell surface and capable of efficiently binding soluble CD4, exhibited decreased gp120 shedding. These mutants were still sensitive to neutralization by soluble CD4, indicating that, for envelope glycoproteins exhibiting high affinity for soluble CD4, competitive inhibition may be more important than gp120 shedding for the antiviral effect.
Estimation du suivi du ventricule gauche du cœur par Modèle d’Etat Harmonique

Nous avons developpe une nouvelle methode de suivi de contour ferme qui se base sur un modele d’etat harmonique (MEH), afin de realiser le suivi du ventricule gauche (VG) du cœur durant tout le cycle cardiaque. Cette methode nous fournit les trajectoires des points du contour du VG, information necessaire a l’analyse du mouvement cardiaque. Le vecteur d’etat genere par le MEH permet une modelisation robuste et correcte de contour ferme. Nous nous appuyons sur ce vecteur d’etat et nous l’utilisons comme descripteur local d’une region du VG. Le suivi du mouvement est realise par une recherche de vecteurs d’etat similaires durant tout le cycle cardiaque. L’application en simulation de notre methode donne des resultats satisfaisants. Sur les donnees reelles extraites de sequences cine-IRM, les trajectoires calculees, des points du contour du VG tout au long du cycle cardiaque, nous permettent d’avoir une difference clairement visible entre un cœur sain et un cœur pathologique.
Level of impaired control predicts outcome of moderation-oriented treatment for alcohol problems.

AIMS To examine the ability of the Impaired Control Scale (ICS) to predict outcome of moderation-oriented treatment for alcohol problems and to compare this predictive ability directly with that of a widely used measure of alcohol dependence, the Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ). DESIGN Prospective follow-up study. SETTING Out-patient treatment centres. PARTICIPANTS A combined sample 154 problem drinkers taking part in two clinical trials of Moderation-oriented Cue Exposure in the UK and Australia. Clients were followed-up 6 (UK) and 8 (Australia) months after the end of treatment. MEASUREMENTS Outcome was categorized by combining drinking behaviour at follow-up with changes on the Alcohol Problems Questionnaire from before treatment to follow-up. Controlling for research site, baseline scores on Part 2 of the ICS (substitution method) and the SADQ-C were entered in logistic regression analyses with three outcome dichotomies as dependent variables. FINDINGS Five per cent of clients were abstinent at follow-up, 13% non-problem drinkers, 25% much improved, 24% somewhat improved and 34% unimproved. Location of treatment and ICS2 scores were significant predictors of whether or not clients achieved a successful outcome (abstinence or non-problem drinking). Using a cut-point of 25 on the ICS, two-thirds of outcomes were classified correctly as either treatment successes or failures. SADQ-C score was not a significant predictor of treatment outcome. CONCLUSIONS The ICS predicts outcome of moderation-oriented treatment among moderately dependent problem drinkers recruited mainly via newspaper advertisements. The ICS should replace the SADQ as the basis for advice to clients in this population of problem drinkers regarding whether or not a moderation goal of treatment should be pursued.
Investigation of widespread neocortical pathology associated with hippocampal sclerosis in epilepsy: A postmortem study

Purpose: One possible cause for surgical failure following temporal lobectomy for the treatment of epilepsy due to classical hippocampal sclerosis (CHS) is the presence of more widespread cortical changes. Neocortical changes in CHS shown by quantitative neuroimaging studies may involve hippocampal projection pathways. Our aim was to quantitate neocortical pathology using a postmortem series of brains from patients with epilepsy and CHS.
Stakeholder considerations in public-private partnerships

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how an understanding of the alignment of goals of customers, employees and investors can aid in the partner selection process. The paper explains the opportunities and challenges offered by a keen examination of a restrained stakeholder view of the firm. It also explains the relational challenges of partner selection together with the interactive effects of these variables. Design/methodology/approach The design uses secondary data focused on customers, employees and investors’ goals and their alignment with sustainable development goals (SDGs). Consumer behaviour data on issues related to SDGs, research on employee’s work motivation and the goals of investors, both institutional and individual, are investigated. Findings To develop effective public–private partnerships (PPPs), the goals and behaviours of both parties must be recognised, considered and addressed. The goals and priorities of these entities are not always well aligned with SDG goals. In selecting partners, non-government organisations will benefit from recognising the differing goals of stakeholders and common ground for actions. Research limitations/implications The model examines only three stakeholder groups: consumers, investors and employees. Practical implications A selection process based on a solid understanding of key stakeholders can offer the necessary information to target partners that are more likely to succeed in implementing strategies geared towards the SDGs. Social implications While PPPs have the potential to be successful, to achieve significant gains in advancing the SDG agenda, there must be “buy-in” from relevant stakeholders associated with the partnerships. Originality/value The paper addresses some issues seldom addressed in SDG PPP writing.
Induction of H2AX Phosphorylation in Pulmonary Cells by Tobacco Smoke: A New Assay for Carcinogens

DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) are potentially carcinogenic lesions. The induction of DSBs triggers phosphorylation of histone H2AX. Phosphorylated H2AX, denoted p-H2AX, may be detected immunocytochemically and the intensity of p-H2AX immunofluorescence (IF) reveals the frequency of DSBs. Using this assay we tested whether the exposure of A549 human pulmonary adenocarcinoma cells to tobacco smoke, and normal human bronchial epithelial cells (NHBE) to tobacco smoke condensate, induces DSBs. Cellular p-H2AX IF and DAPI fluorescence of individual cells were measured by laser scanning cytometry (LSC). Exposure of A549 cells to tobacco smoke and NHBE cells to smoke condensate led to H2AX phosphorylation in both a time and dose dependent manner. The maximal rate of H2AX phosphorylation was seen during the initial 4h of cell treatment. At high doses (50 _g/ml of smoke condensate), H2AX phosphorylation continued to increase for up to 24h. No differences in the level of H2AX phosphorylation were apparent between cells in G1 vs S vs G2/M phase of the cell cycle in response to treatment with smoke condensate. The data provide strong evidence that exposure of A549 cells to tobacco smoke or NHBE cells to smoke condensate rapidly induces DSBs in these cells. The present assay to detect and measure DSBs induced by tobacco products complements other mutagenicity assays and may be applied to test potential carcinogens in other products.
Contemporary approaches to pharmacotherapy in Tourette's syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

TOPIC Contemporary approaches used in the pharmacological treatment of children and adolescents with Tourette's syndrome or obsessive-compulsive disorder. BACKGROUND Tourette's syndrome (TS) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) now are recognized as more common than previously believed. Moreover, there is accumulating evidence that these two disorders may share common neurobiological underpinnings. Nonetheless, pharmacologic approaches to treatment may be quite different. SOURCES Using recently published information, this paper reviews current treatment for TS and OCD. CONCLUSION There have been major advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of OCD and TS. These advances provides guidance for the treatment of children and adolescents with these disorders. However, additional research is needed to refine current treatment approaches.
Etude hydrodynamique et thermique de la vaporisation dans un micro-canal de section carrée : application aux micro-boucles diphasiques à pompage capillaire

La comprehension des mecanismes couples de vaporisation et de pompage capillaire dans des micro-canaux est primordiale pour le developpement des micro-boucles fluides diphasiques. Ce travail aborde les etudes experimentale et theorique d'un evaporateur capillaire constitue d'un micro-tube de section carree chauffe a son extremite. Le banc experimental developpe permet de caracteriser l'ecoulement obtenu par pompage capillaire en fonction de la puissance de chauffe. Une attention particuliere est portee sur la repartition des phases liquide et vapeur determinee par le traitement d'images video. Il apparait que le phenomene de vaporisation dans de telles conditions operatoires est tres instable. Les donnees issues du traitement des images, couplees a celles fournies par les autres capteurs, permettent d'analyser sous differents angles (i. E. Temporel, spatial et statistique) les caracteristiques de cet ecoulement. Parallelement a cette approche experimentale, une modelisation de la repartition des phases est developpee dans cette configuration de pompage capillaire. Ce modele stationnaire permet de mieux comprendre les mecanismes dominant l'ecoulement avec changement de phase et de predire l'extension des zones de films minces de liquide. Pour finir, une etude sur le plan experimental et numerique d'une boucle diphasique a pompage capillaire de type CPL et de dimensions reduites a ete mise en place. Un modele de fonctionnement a ete developpe permettant de mieux apprehender les problemes de conduction thermique crees par la miniaturisation. Les premiers resultats experimentaux mettent en avant l'orientation a suivre pour fiabiliser de tels systemes.
Does Discovery-Based Instruction Enhance Learning?.

Discovery learning approaches to education have recently come under scrutiny (Tobias & Duffy, 2009), with many studies indicating limitations to discovery learning practices. Therefore, 2 meta-analyses were conducted using a sample of 164 studies: The 1st examined the effects of unassisted discovery learning versus explicit instruction, and the 2nd examined the effects of enhanced and/or assisted discovery versus other types of instruction (e.g., explicit, unassisted discovery). Random effects analyses of 580 comparisons revealed that outcomes were favorable for explicit instruction when compared with unassisted discovery under most conditions (d – 0.38, 95% CI [–.44, .31]). In contrast, analyses of 360 comparisons revealed that outcomes were favorable for enhanced discovery when compared with other forms of instruction (d 0.30, 95% CI [.23, .36]). The findings suggest that unassisted discovery does not benefit learners, whereas feedback, worked examples, scaffolding, and elicited explanations do.
MOST EFFECTIVE TACTIC TO RESOLVE PROBLEMATIC INFECTION CONTROL PRACTICES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: PERIODIC IN-SERVICE TRAINING SESSIONS.

Background: Lack of Health Education Training Programs for in-service candidates in most of the health institutions of country is imposing a biggest hindrance in achieving the dream of skilled India. This all hits the institutions’ bottom line and there is no enhancement in skill development, experience and practical knowledge of the workers. In certain hospitals because of operational difficulties like high turnover of staff and insufficient time for training and monitoring their effectiveness, good service practices suffers. Methodology: This analytical cohort study was undertaken and was followed up, to assess the impact of specified training sessions, on the knowledge about skills of Infection Prevention over a group of nursing staffs of a tertiary care institution of Bhopal city in 2016. Total 30 nursing participants were evaluated statistically for assessing significant difference in their qualitative knowledge improvement level before and after the infection control training session. Results: Pretest & Posttest means & variances were calculated & Pearson Correlation between pre & posttest findings was also estimated. Here (t29 = -6.59, p value ≤ 1.59533*10-7) inference of the study is highly significant. Conclusion: It has been concluded that in order to get desired results in terms of infection control practices, intermittent and relevant training sessions are required.