bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Corporate Signaling with Dividends, Stock Repurchases, and Accounting Disclosures: An Empirical Study
Authors: Gelb David S.
Published: January 2017

This paper examines corporate signaling practices in a framework that includes dividends, stock repurchases, and accounting disclosures. Using analysts' ratings of firms' disclosure practices as a proxy for the level of accounting disclosures, this study investigates the substitutability among these signals. Prior studies have questioned how costly signals, such as dividends and stock repurchases, coexist with presumably less costly alternatives, such as annual reports or other accounting disclosures. The signaling models in the finance literature generally assume that because of the problems of moral hazard, accounting disclosures are not viewed credibly by investors.

This study presents evidence for an alternative explanation. For some firms, dividends and stock repurchases may be less costly than accounting disclosures. Prior studies model the trade-off the firm faces between the benefits of conveying favorable information to the financial markets and its need to protect proprietary information from potential competitors. Consistent with the predictions of these studies, my results indicate that “good news” firms that operate in markets with lower industry concentration ratios, and therefore lower entry barriers, are more likely to convey favorable news via dividends or stock repurchases instead of accounting disclosures. These firms appear to rely on dividend and stock repurchase signals as a means of conveying favorable news to investors without releasing specific proprietary information.
Accruals and Future Stock Returns: Tests of the Naïve Investor Hypothesis
Authors: Ali Ashiq , Hwang Lee-Seok , Trombley Mark A.
Published: January 2017

We explore whether the association between accruals and future returns documented by Sloan (1996) is due to fixation by naïve investors on the total amount of reported earnings without regard for the relative magnitude of the accrual and cash flow components. Contrary to the predictions of the naïve investor hypothesis, we find that the predictive ability of accruals for subsequent annual returns and for quarterly earnings announcement stock returns is not lower for large firms or for firms followed more by analysts or held more by institutions. Further, we find that the ability of accruals to predict future returns does not seem to depend on stock price or transaction volume, measures of transaction costs, also contrary to predictions of the naïve investor hypothesis. These results are robust to regression and hedge portfolio tests. We conclude that the predictive ability of accruals for subsequent returns does not seem to be due to the inability of market participants to understand value-relevant information.
Demand for Audit Quality: The Case of Laventhol and Horwath's Auditees
Authors: Reed Brad J. , Trombley Mark A. , Dhaliwal Dan S.
Published: January 2017

This study investigates the demand for audit quality for the firms being audited by Laventhol and Horwath (LH) at the time LH declared bankruptcy. The demand for audit quality by the former LH clients is inferred from their decisions to select Big Six or non–Big Six auditors. Because the change in auditors was involuntary, the sample avoids self-selection issues associated with voluntary auditor switches. LH clients that selected Big Six auditors tended to be more highly leveraged, have less management ownership, and issue more securities in the year after selecting the new auditor than LH clients that selected non–Big Six auditors.
A Lintnerian Linear Accounting Valuation Model
Authors: Callen Jeffrey L. , Morel Mindy
Published: January 2017

This paper develops and tests a linear valuation accounting model based on Lintner's (1956) dividend model. Two test methodologies are employed on a firm-level time-series basis. First, abstracting from the nonlinear relationships among the parameters, the information dynamic and valuation equation are estimated by linear OLS and linear SUR. The estimated equations are evaluated by reference to the sign and value predictions of the model. Second, recognizing the underlying nonlinear relationships among the parameters, the Lintnerian system of equations is estimated by nonlinear OLS and nonlinear SUR. All parameters are estimated endogenously at the firm level, including each firm's cost of capital. The resulting parameter estimates are evaluated for statistical and, in the case of costs of capital, for economic significance.

Results of the first (linear) methodology by and large confirm the validity of the Lintner model. The signs and values of the estimated coefficients are consistent with the predictions of the Lintner model except that the (mean) estimated book value coefficient in the price equation exceeds its theoretical upper bound. The results of the second (nonlinear) methodology are somewhat more problematic. Although the Lintner model yields statistically significant firm-level costs of capital, these estimates are not economically significant for the sample period.
Does Analyst Behavior Explain Market Mispricing of Foreign Earnings for U.S. Multinational Firms?
Authors: Khurana Inder K. , Pereira Raynolde , Raman K. K.
Published: January 2017

The general theme of examining components of earnings is of interest to both practitioners and academics, given its potential for allowing investors and analysts to more precisely forecast earnings and estimate firm value. For U.S. multinational firms, prior research indicates that while the foreign and domestic earnings components are value relevant, the market fails to fully incorporate the higher persistence of foreign earnings. However, findings of potential market mispricing can be attributed to alternative explanations such as unidentified risk factors or flaws in research design.

In this study, we seek to circumvent these concerns by examining whether financial analysts (who are deemed to be sophisticated users of financial statements and act as intermediaries between companies and investors) fully incorporate the time-series properties of foreign and domestic earnings in formulating their earnings forecasts. Similar to market-based studies, we find that analysts do distinguish between foreign and domestic earnings. However, we find that analysts also fail to fully incorporate the higher persistence of foreign earnings. Finally, we find that analysts' underestimation of foreign earnings persistence appears to parallel the similar finding at the market level.

We discuss how our findings relate to the prior literature, and what they imply for accounting research and practice. Specifically, our study complements previous research which appears to undermine the notion of an efficient market. Also, we find that analysts' bias is in the direction of lowering earnings expectations by underestimating the persistence of foreign earnings, which suggests that collusion with management to inflate earnings expectations is not a plausible explanation for the bias. Collectively, our findings suggest analysts' lack of effectiveness as information intermediaries.
The Impact of Expertise and Investment Familiarity on Investors' Use of Online Financial Report Information
Authors: Hodge Frank , Pronk Maarten
Published: January 2017

In this study we use a unique dataset to examine whether professional and nonprofessional investors use different online quarterly financial information when making investment decisions, and whether the online information they use depends on whether they are researching a new investment or evaluating a current investment. Our results suggest that professional investors prefer to view PDF-formatted quarterly reports and tend to rely directly on the financial statements compared with nonprofessional investors who prefer to view HTML-formatted reports and have a tendency to rely more on management's discussion of the quarter's results. Our results also suggest that, for nonprofessional investors, investment familiarity (i.e., whether they are evaluating a current investment or researching a new investment) strongly affects the type of financial information they view within a firm's quarterly reports. Our results have implications for the design of experimental studies, and provide information useful to managers, financial report users, standard setters, and researchers as they attempt to better understand the types of information that professional and nonprofessional investors use when making investment decisions.
Economic Depreciation, Accounting Depreciation, and Their Relation to Current Cost Accounting
Authors: Bar-Yosef Sasson , Lustgarten Steven
Published: January 2017

The relevancy of changing prices in accounting for asset values for U.S. industries is explored. The analysis compares the economic value of assets with accounting-based valuations—historical and current cost—in an inflationary environment. A simulation is employed to estimate the magnitude of the errors of current cost and historical cost reporting. The results of the simulation indicate that where firms use sum-of-years-digits depreciation, current cost accounting is more accurate than historical cost accounting for all but 1 of the 32 asset classes tested. Where firms use straight-line depreciation, current cost accounting is more accurate for all classes of structures but not for all classes of equipment. For equipment under straight-line depreciation, the relative accuracy of current cost was directly related to the rate of inflation and inversely related to the rate of growth of asset outlays.
An Examination of Voting Behavior of the ASB
Authors: McEnroe John E.
Published: January 2017

The system by which auditing standards are promulgated has resided in the private sector since 1939. The members of the Auditing Standards Boards (ASB), unlike the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), retain formal affiliations with their parent organizations during their tenure on the ASB. As a result, this process has been criticized by the late Senator Metcalf and others. One of Metcalf s allegations was that large accounting firms dominate the audit standard-setting process through their employees that serve on the ASB. Accordingly, this study examines certain voting behavior of the ASB in an effort to determine if the board members are acting as agents of their parent organizations or, rather, as independent rule makers. The results do support the proposition that in casting certain votes, the board members are acting in an agency capacity.
Amino Acid Levels in Plasma and Muscle of Rats after Intravenous Administration of Different Amino Acid Infusions
Authors: Kishi Tetsuya , Iwasawa Yasuo , Itoh Hiroshi , Chibata Ichiro
Published: January 2017

Studies were conducted on the participation of specific amino acids in the alterations of their levels in plasma and muscle of rats after short term intravenous infusion. Sufficient amounts of amino acids and glucose were used as a basal solution, and the levels in plasma and muscle were determined 30 min after the end of infusion. When an infusion solution devoid of one of the essential amino acids from the basal solution, ‐Leu, ‐He, ‐Lys or ‐Thr, was administered, the plasma and muscle levels of the deleted amino acids decreased in different degrees. With infusion of the deficient solutions except for the ‐Leu, no significant changes were observed in aminoacids other than those deleted, although occasional changes were noted. On the other hand, the infusion of the ‐Leu resulted in significant increase of isoleucine and valine levels, and a moderate increase of many other amino acids both in plasma and in muscle. In contrast, when leucine was administered singly in an amount equivalent to that in the basal solution, isoleucine and valine decreased significantly. Most of the other amino acids also decreased markedly after the infusion of leucine alone. These results suggest that, in intravenous infusion, leucine plays a specific role on amino acid levels in plasma and muscle of rats.
A Retrospective Analysis of Technology Use Patterns of Students with Autism over a Five-Year Period
Authors: Mirenda Pat , Wilk Diana , Carson Paul
Published: January 2017

Since 1993, students with autism in British Columbia schools have received technology supports through a provincial government initiative. This retrospective, exploratory study involved a file review of students with autism who participated in this initiative over a five-year period. The following questions were addressed.

Who were the students with autism to whom technology was provided? What type(s) of technology did they receive? What were the profiles of students who received specific types of technology? For which educational goal areas was technology used? How successful was it?

Results suggested that the majority of students received technology for educational participation while a smaller number received voice output communication aids; some students received both types of technology. The primary goals for which technology was used were related to writing, expressive communication, and social interaction. When numerical “success scores” were assigned to teachers' annual reports of the outcomes of technology use, 60% of the students were assigned scores suggesting successful or very successful use, and only 12% were scored as having little or no success. Success scores did not appear to be related to students' cognitive ability, but students who received technology at a young age appeared to experience more success than those who received it as adolescents. The preliminary results are discussed in terms of the potential for positive outcomes of technology use by students with autism and the need for additional research in this area.
Using Video and CD-ROM Technology in a Job Preference Inventory for Youth with Severe Disabilities
Authors: Morgan Robert L. , Gerity Brent P. , Ellerd David A.
Published: January 2017

In this article, a motion video CD-ROM program designed to assist youth with severe disabilities in the selection of job preferences is described. With help from a facilitator such as a special education teacher or rehabilitation counselor, a youth works at a computer terminal to select preferred work conditions and specific jobs. This information may be used for transition planning. First, traditional vocational interest inventories for individuals with disabilities and video and CD-ROM career exploration programs for youth with typical characteristics are presented. Second, development and evaluation of the video CD-ROM program for youth with severe disabilities is described.
The Effectiveness of Word Processor Spell Checker Programs to Produce Target Words for Misspellings Generated by Students with Learning Disabilities
Authors: Montgomery Donna J. , Karlan George R. , Coutinho Martha
Published: January 2017

This study investigated spell check programs to determine how they differ in producing target words in first position in the replacement list for misspellings generated by students with learning disabilities. A pool of 1,008 misspellings taken from 111 writing samples generated by students with learning disabilities, grades three through eight, were spell checked by the spell check function of nine word processing software programs. Misspellings were classified by the level of phonetic mismatch to the target word (phonetic error level) and the proportion of correct two-letter sequences (bigram ratio). A significant difference was found among spell checkers in their ability to produce target words first in the replacement list. In addition, a significant difference with respect to phonetic error level and bigram ratio was found. Efficiency of spell checkers increased as the phonetic error level or the bigram ratio of the misspellings increased. These results suggest that spell checkers are overall ineffective in producing target words first in the replacement list for misspellings generated by students with learning disabilities.
Parents of Children with Disabilities Evaluate the Importance of the Computer in Child Development
Authors: Lindstrand Peg
Published: January 2017

Significant progress has been made during the past ten years in the development of new computer-based technology for children. Computers have gained increased importance in many different parts of society, including that of children with disabilities. This article reports on parents' experiences and expectations concerning the importance of computers in child development and describes the history and philosophy of Computer Play Centers (CPCs). The study includes 180 families having children with different types of disabilities attending CPCs. The parents evaluated the importance of computers for their children within ten different areas of development The results showed that parents had clear and firm opinions concerning the computer's importance for the development of their children. In order to develop new technology and new software for children, a new way of thinking is needed, in which the individual and family are given the opportunity to describe different aspects of what they associate with development.
e-Learning: A Programmatic Research Construct for the Future
Authors: Meyen Edward L. , Aust Ron , Gauch John M. , Hinton H. Scott , Isaacson Robert E. , Smith Sean J. , Tee Meng Yew
Published: January 2017

The Internet and its applications in education and industry have significantly influenced how we teach and learn. This has all occurred as a consequence of emerging technologies and the demands for online instruction by consumers.

In the midst of this environment of rapid growth, a new form of pedagogy has emerged. However, much of it is not the result of research. This paper addresses the need for a conceptual approach to researching, e-learning instructional design and the technologies employed as a basis for e-learning.

A programmatic research construct is offered as a structure for building a conceptual model. Three categories of variables are considered in building the construct. They include outcome, in situ, and independent variables. The intent of the paper is to engage researchers and developers in a process of further defining the variables and translating them into research questions that might serve as guidelines in building the literature base for the pedagogy of online instruction.
Core Curriculum in Assistive Technology: In-Service for Special Educators and Therapists
Authors: Dissinger Frankie K.
Published: January 2017

This article describes the development of a course sequence in assistive technology (AT) that was offered over a four year period for special educators, speech/language therapists, and occupational therapists. The course participants learned how to assess student needs for AT, what AT devices were available, and how to make good decisions within the IEP team process for students with disabilities. The major sections of the course were data-gathering frameworks, legal issues, augmentative communication devices, and computer access adaptations and software. Follow-up consumer satisfaction of the course by the participants is also summarized. One of the most beneficial residuals from the course was a short-term AT equipment loan program.
The Effect of Instructor-Created Video Programs to Teach Students with Disabilities: A Literature Review
Authors: Mechling Linda
Published: January 2017

This paper summarizes the results of a review of the empirical literature (1999–2003) focusing on the use of instructor-created video recording incorporating personalized video to teach individuals with disabilities. Twenty-four investigations were identified which provided information on several effective procedures. Six areas of research on instruction through video technology were defined and analyzed through the identified studies: (a) video feedback, (b) video modeling, (c) video self-modeling, (d) subjective point of view, (e) interactive video instruction, and (f) computer-based video instruction. Implications of the research and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Using a Computer-Adapted, Conceptually Based History Text to Increase Comprehension and Problem-Solving Skills of Students with Disabilities
Authors: Twyman Todd , Tindal Gerald
Published: January 2017

The purpose of this study was to improve the comprehension and problem-solving skills of students with disabilities in social studies using a conceptually framed, computer-adapted history text. Participants were 11th and 12th grade students identified with learning disabilities in reading and writing from two intact, self-contained social studies classes. During the three weeks of the study, students in the experimental group received content regarding the Industrial Revolution via a conceptually framed, computer-adapted text, while students in the control group were taught the same content using the district adopted textbook. Two curriculum-based measures were used to measure comprehension, and an extended-response essay was used to measure problem-solving performance. Analyses showed no statistical difference between the groups for comprehension. However, students in the experimental group statistically outperformed students in the control group on the extended-response essay. Results are discussed in terms of effect size and group sampling size. Implications from these findings indicate that computer-adaptive technology is an effective learning supplement for students with disabilities in content classrooms.
Improving CAI Effectiveness with Attention to Instructional Design in Teaching Story Problems to Mildly Handicapped Students
Authors: Gleason Mary , Carnine Douglas , Boriero Diane
Published: January 2017

This report summarizes the results of a study in which a computer-assisted tutorial was compared to a teacher-assisted group in teaching multiplication and division math story problems to mildly handicapped middle school students. The same curriculum was used for both conditions; the only difference between the two instructional approaches was the medium used to communicate instruction to the students. Comparisons of scores from a pretest, two posttests, and one of two transfer tests demonstrated no significant differences between the groups; however, both groups showed a significant improvement from pretest to posttest scores. Comparisons are made with an earlier study in which neither group learned from the instruction. Results from the two studies indicate that, when sound instructional design principles are used to design CAI, the computer can be an effective instructional medium for mildly handicapped students, even for a complex skill such as math story problems.
Law, Labour, and Legitimacy: The Complexion of WTO
Authors: Mohanty Tapan R , Khan Adil Hasan , Kamal Gaurav
Published: January 2017

The WTO as an institution was set up ‘to help trade flow as freely as possible,’ thus ensuring smooth passage towards economic globalization but, unfortunately, this has not been the case. The provisions and instrumentality of WTO have been used to scuttle the independence of developing nation-states and disempowering them economically.

The fissure between the developed and the developing nations has been broadened due to the vexing issue of labour standardization that has created a major hurdle in defining and describing the ambit and access of WTO. This issue has haunted the WTO since its inception in Marrakash way back in 1994, and has been identified as the major rallying point for the developing countries from Seattle to Cancun. One of the main issues that has emerged in this conflict is the linkage between labour standards and trade. This issue has a bearing on the structural and legal foundations of the very organization (WTO). This article seeks to examine the arguments given by both sides of the debate.

India for its part has played a crucial role in this global standoff by being one of the main leaders of the developing nations. Given its transitional economic status, labour standards do present it with a ‘Catch-22’ situation. One must not commit the error of considering its reasons for opposing the linkage between trade and labour standards as being the same as all other developing nations since a number of factors has resulted in India adopting this course. Certain emerging factors like the fear of Chinese goods flooding the markets and the EU and American unilateral enforcement might force India to possibly rethink its posture.

To conclude, it can be stated that in this era of American unilateralism, global institutions like the WTO are faced with the risk of extinction. The tendency to promote homogenization of trade through the hegemony of WTO smacks of arrogance and unilaterism that is simply unacceptable in a plural world setting. Both sides to the conflict must necessarily make some concessions with regard to labour standards in order to prevent this from taking place.

To sum up, the major issues discussed in the paper are as follows: The provisos and instrumentality of WTO have been consistently used to scuttle the independence of developing nation-states and disempowering them eco- nomically. As a result, the chasm between the developed and the developing nations is becoming wider and wider. India for its part has played a crucial role in this global standoff by being one of the main leaders of the developing nations. But, it alone can do very little to alter the hegemony and, hence, it has to form a block with nation-states placed in similar positions a la Brazil. The issue of labour standards needs to be addressed both at the level of ILO and WTO so that the member countries can arrive at a broad consensus. Efforts should be directed at addressing the ethical, environmental, and social issues along the core economic concerns in order to create a sustainable, equal world system.
Indication of Overreaction with or without Stock Specific Public Announcements in Indian Stock market
Authors: Khatua Sitangshu , Pradhan H K
Published: January 2017

Stock market overreacts to both anticipated and unanticipated stock-specific news. But even in the absence of any firm-specific news, evidences of extreme price changes have been observed in the stock market. This particular phenomenon creates the need of further study to examine the existence of overreaction even if there is no specific public news in the market.

The present study tries to find out how stocks overreact in the case of unspecified events in comparison to specified news in the Indian stock market. Specified events can be monitored up to a certain extent because of their known and repetitive nature. The magnitude of uniqueness of the unspecified events increases uncertainty. Information diffusion is more asymmetric, which leads to more stock market overreaction. The study also examines whether there is a relationship between the magnitude of price reversals and the magnitude of gain or loss in the stock market return.

Significant cumulative abnormal returns are found, indicating the existence of an overreaction effect. It is also found that the magnitude of price reversal is inversely proportional to the stock return during the event period. The overreaction effect continues up to about two days after the event date, for the present sample.

Thus, the study provides an understanding of overreaction effects, which would enable investors to prepare trading strategies for higher returns. It can be said that the Indian stocks show strong overreaction and reversal effect. It shows that a trading strategy can be used to make contrarian profit from the overreaction and reversal exhibited by the Indian stocks. An investor could buy the largest percentage losers stocks or sell largest percentage gainers stocks, then sell the former one and buy the latter one after two trading days. In this way, the optimum utilization of overreaction effects may increase investors' return. Overreaction is more prominent in the case of unspecified events rather than specified events. Stock prices overreact to private news but underreact to subsequent public announcements. Overreaction increases due to information asymmetry and leakage. In the case of any macro/global issues, overreaction is also more because of market integration and globalization.
The Impact of Derivative Trading on the Liquidity of Stocks
Authors: Narasimhan M S , Kalra Shalu
Published: January 2017

Liquidity is an important factor for smooth trading for all assets including equities traded in the stock markets. Stock exchanges enable buyers and sellers to come together for transaction and in the process reduce the search cost and friction. Higher liquidity motivates more investors to participate in the stock market. Introduction of derivatives of the underlying stock increases the opportunity set available to investors and hence affect the liquidity of the underlying stock.

This study examines the impact of derivative trading on the liquidity of underlying stock using price impact measure of liquidity. The price impact measure of liquidity, which actually measures illiquidity, is given by the average daily ratio of absolute return of the stock to the daily volume over a period of time. The advantage of this measure is that it is based on the observed price changes associated with trades. Two time periods have been chosen to examine the short-term and long-term impact of derivative listing on liquidity of underlying stocks. The first time period is one month pre- and post-listing and the second time period is one year pre- and post-listing.

The results of this study show a shift in the volume from cash market to derivative market, decline in the number of trades, and lower volatility after the introduction of derivative trading. The illiquidity of the stocks also increased in the short run after the introduction of derivative trading and this is definitely not a desirable outcome of introduction of derivative trading. The sample has been divided into four quartiles on the basis of pre-liquidity levels to examine whether the change in liquidity is affected by the pre liquidity levels of the underlying stock. The results show that the impact of derivative trading on long-term liquidity of the market depends on the level of liquidity prior to the introduction of derivative trading. They also show an improvement in long-term liquidity after derivative trading when the liquidity of stocks prior to derivative trading was not high. In other words, derivative listing improved the liquidity of illiquid stocks significantly and served one of the basic objectives of risk management. On the other hand, long-term liquidity was marginally affected if the stocks were already liquid and it is not a matter of concern.
Fraud Risk Prediction in Merchant-Bank Relationship using Regression Modeling
Authors: Agarwal Nishant , Sharma Meghna
Published: January 2017

Banking industry has gone through one of the worst crisis in recent times, and is still recovering from the after-shocks. However, there were a lot of learnings that banks would have taken away from this crisis. One of them is the need for a robust risk management system. The crisis dealt a blow to the banking system, catching them off guard when it came to foreseeing the risk. Banks, in the credit card business, face financial risk in the form of both credit risk and fraud risk. Sharma and Agarwal (2013) proposed a model for predicting the credit risk from the merchants. This paper builds upon their technique to predict the fraud risk posed by the merchants to the banks.

Fraud risk is an important aspect of risk management systems, particularly in the credit space. The uncertainty surrounding the receipt of paybacks calls for designing robust risk prediction models. Fraud risk is very different from credit risk because fraud risk does not follow a pattern. It happens suddenly, and may not always have a trend before it happens. This creates a need for separate model for fraud risk prediction. This paper develops a fraud risk prediction model that uses logistic regression technique, deployed using SAS. The setup of the study is the merchant-bank relationship in the credit card industry.

The model developed in this paper triggers on a transaction level, and assigns a ‘probability score of default (PF) to each merchant for a possible fraud risk whenever a transaction is done at the merchant. Such a score warns the management in advance of probable future losses on merchant accounts. Banks can rank order merchants based on their PF score, and instead of working on the entire merchant portfolio, they can focus on the relatively riskier set of merchants. The PF model is validated by comparing the actual defaults with those predicted by the model and a good alignment is found between the two. The results show that the model can capture 62 percent frauds in the first decile when the transactions are sorted by the probability of fraud computed by the model.
Detection and Analytical Results of the Infrasonic Signal from the Eruption of St. Helen's Volcano
Authors: Wen-Yi Liu
Published: January 2017

This paper mainly describes the detection by the Infrasonic receiving array of the Sound-gravity wave produced by the eruption of the St. Helens volcano in the U.S.A. on May 18, 1980. The wave train chart of the sound pressure and the group velocity of the Infra-Sonic Signals, are given. Analysis of the dynamic spectrum has been carried out. The energy of this volcanic eruption is estimated, and the result is 30.6 MT.
Experimental Studies on the Dynamic Performance of Some Tractor Seats of Indian Manufacture
Authors: Bansal A.S. , Thapar Sameer
Published: January 2017

This paper presents the experimental results of studies on the dynamic performance of tractor seats commonly used in India. Vertical transmissibilities of the seats have been studied over a frequency range 2.0-7.5 Hz; with two subjects of different weights, sand dummies and solid dummies of equivalent weight in the seats. The transmissibilities with the subjects and the sand dummies in the seats are somewhat comparable; whereas those with solid dummies and subjects in the seats differ considerably. Most of the seats have been found to have suspension systems with poor isolation characteristics.
Adsorption of Alcohols from Multicomponent Solutions onto Silica Gel
Authors: Goworek J.
Published: January 2017

Adsorption equilibria of the binary and ternary solutions of alcohols in benzene and n-heptane on silica gel have been studied in order to clarify their mechanisms of adsorption. Excess adsorption isotherms have been measured for hydrocarbon solutions of methanol, ethanol, butanol and pentanol. Interpretation of the experimental data was performed in terms of material balance between bulk and surface phase. In n-heptane solutions the multilayer surface structure is formed and the surface phase contains the alcohol only. For benzene and ternary (alcohol + benzene + n-heptane) solutions a mixed surface phase is observed whose composition is determined by competition of liquid components for silica surface as well as its tendency to complex. Moreover, the extent of adsorption in methanol systems is connected with the miscibility of liquid components.
Possibility of Using t-Plots, Obtained from Nitrogen Adsorption for the Valuation of Zeolites
Authors: Hudec P. , Novanský J. , Silhár S. , Trung T. N. , Zúbek M. , Maďar J.
Published: January 2017

Data of adsorption isotherms of nitrogen adsorption at 77 K on various samples of zeolites were measured. Besides derivation of specific surface area by BET analysis, samples were characterised by values obtained by t-plots; specific surface areas of mesopores and specific volumes of micropores are also calculated. Results show the value of the use of t-plot method for the characterization of microporosity changes in zeolites after various treatments, and also for quantitative estimation of zeolite content in natural zeolites and the crystallinity of synthetic zeolites.
Influence of the Pore Diameter on the Adsorption Behaviour of Nonpolar Molecules on SiO2-Adsorbents
Authors: Stach H. , Jänchen J. , Thamm H. , Stiebitz E. , Vetter R. A.
Published: January 2017

The adsorption equilibrium of n-paraffins (ethane, n-butane, n-hexane and n-decane) and some noble gases on SiO2-adsorbents with different pore diameter have been investigated using the techniques of isostere-, isotherm- and calorimetric-measurements. There is a strong influence of the pore diameter on the adsorption potential. As the pore diameter of the adsorbents increases the adsorption enthalpy decreases while the adsorption entropy increases. For the initial heats of adsorption of the n-alkanes an empirical equation is derived, allowing the calculation of the thermodynamic data in advance, knowing the (mean) pore diameter.
Thermodynamic Formulations of Excess and Absolute Values of Adsorption on Solid Surfaces: A Comparison of One- and Two-Phase Approaches
Authors: Wittkopf H. , Bräuer P.
Published: January 2017

The generally used methods of thermodynamic adsorption analysis are summarized in two basic concepts: the two-phase approach (which is an adequate picture of volume phase thermodynamics in adsorption) and the one-phase approach (which uses excess values for the thermodynamic description of adsorption). Differential and integral molar values of adsorption Δ a X̄ and Δ a X in the two-phase approach are not identical with the corresponding excess values Δ a X̄s and Δ a Xs in the one-phase approach. Especially at high temperatures and high pressures they may be entirely different. It is shown that the experimental methods most usually in adsorption thermodynamics (as adsorption volumetry and gravimetry) give excess data which are to be used in the one-phase approach but which can be transformed to the two-phase approach. Using statistical thermodynamic calculations the difference between these basic concepts is shown over a wide temperature range for the first virial coefficient, the internal energy and the heat capacity of adsorption.
Active Carbon as an Adsorbent for Lead Ions
Authors: Akhtar Sohail , Qadeer Riaz
Published: January 2017

A commercial active carbon has been tested as an adsorbent for the removal of lead ions from aqueous solutions. Optimum conditions for maximum adsorption in terms of shaking time, lead ion concentration, temperature and concentration of different acids were established. The results obtained reveal that the adsorption of lead ions on active carbon is athermic (ΔH = 0) in nature and follows first-order kinetics. The first-order rate constant was evaluated as 0.049 min−1 and the intraparticle diffusion rate as 3.07 × 10−4 (g/g min1/2). The data also obey the Freundlich, Langmuir and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm equations over the concentration range studied. The magnitude of the adsorption energy, 7.61 kJ/mol, calculated from the β-constant of the D-R equation lies in the energy range for physical adsorption which is attributed to weak bonding between the lead ions and the active carbon.
Linear Behaviour of a Uniform Pantographic Column in Bending and Compression
Authors: Raskin Igor , Roorda John
Published: January 2017

A uniform pantographic deployable column consists of identical scissor-like elements placed along a straight line. Structural behaviour of such a column under lateral, moment and axial loads is studied. Assumptions include linearity, sufficiently large number of units in a column and certain restrictions on the degree of deployment. The corresponding deflections for each load are obtained both including and neglecting axial deformations of bars in pantographic units. The overall bending and axial stiffnesses of deployable column are derived by equating its deflections to those of a uniform solid column of the same length. Similarities and differences between the two structures are outlined.
Fate of Erythrocytes Containing Heinz Bodies in the Spleen and Liver of Dogs and Turkeys
Authors: Simpson Charles F.
Published: January 2017

Similar phagocytic and digestive events involving erythrocytes containing Heinz bodies occured in Kupffer cells and splenic macrophages of the dog. The earliest stage was confinement of a nonhemolyzed red blood cell by the membrane of a phagocytic vacuole. Next, there was leaching of hemoglobin into the phagocytic vacuole, followed by fragmentation and loss of the erythrocytic membrane. A round phagocytic vacuole containing hemosiderin was the fate of phagocytized erythrocytes containing Heinz bodies.

There were Heinz bodies in both the cytoplasm and nucleoplasm of turkey erythrocytes. Such erythrocytes occurred in phagocytic vacuoles of Kupffer cells and splenic macrophages and evolved through a process similar to that occurring in canine tissue, except that a single vacuole often contained one or more erythrocytes.
Experimentelle Rotlauf- und Streptokokken-Endokarditis bei der Ratte
Authors: Kast A. , Herbst M. , Stoll L.
Published: January 2017

The ability of intravenous injections of single and mixed cultures of streptococci of types A, C, D, E, G, and N, of S. viridans and of E. rhusiopathiae of serotypes A and B, to cause endocarditis in rats was tested. A mixed culture of three strains of Erysipelothrix was particularly effective, especially in male rats, whereas in all the other experiments, bacterial endocarditis seldom occurred. The endocarditis was a consequence of vasculitis and myocarditis. In most cases of valvular endocarditis subendothelial edema caused detachment of endothelial cells and provided the environment for bacterial colonisation of the valves.
Pathogenesis of Experimental Bovine Mycotic Placentitis Produced by Aspergillus fumigatus
Authors: Hill M. W. M. , Whiteman C. E. , Benjamin Maxine M. , Ball L.
Published: January 2017

Eleven heifers were inoculated intravenously with a suspension of 1 × 108 conidia of Aspergillus fumigatus at 169 or 170 days after artificial insemination. These principals were killed at 4, 7, or 14 days after inoculation or thereafter when abortion occurred. Four other heifers served as controls. Mycotic placentitis was not found at 4 days after inoculation. In principals killed at 7 and 14 days, 24% of placentomes had lesions of mycotic placentitis. Heifers that aborted had necrotizing lesions in approximately 90% of placentomes as well as extensive involvement of the interplacentomal area. A theory for the spread of the mycosis in the placenta is presented.
Torsion of the Caudate Lobe of the Liver in the Domestic Rabbit (Oryctolagus)
Authors: Weisbroth S. H.
Published: January 2017

Torsion of the caudate lobe was an incidental necropsy finding in three livers of 984 rabbits. The affected rabbits were mature (18–24 months), without a common background, and did not have clinical signs related to hepatic torsion. No lesions secondary to lobar torsion were seen.
The Etiology of Swine Dysentery
Authors: Meyer R. C. , Simon J. , Byerly C. S.
Published: January 2017

A disease resembling swine dysentery occurred in gnotobiotic piglets previously colonized with Escherichia coli and given a mixture of five enteric anaerobes and spirochete B-78, orally. No disease occurred in germ-free piglets exposed to four Gram-negative obligate anaerobes or to the spirochete; however, if the four respective anaerobes were introduced into gnotobiotic pigs previously colonized with the spirochete, or when the spirochete was introduced into gnotobiotic pigs colonized with the anaerobes, a disease occurred that simulated swine dysentery. Swine dysentery is probably caused by the specific interaction of one or more enteric Gram-negative obligate anaerobes and a spirochete.
Diagnostic Immunohistochemistry of Canine Round Cell Tumors
Authors: Sandusky G. E. , Carlton W. W. , Wightman K. A.
Published: January 2017

Sixty-five canine skin neoplasms studied using immunocytochemistry, included 22 histiocytomas, 18 amelanotic melanomas, 14 cutaneous lymphosarcomas, six mast cell tumors, and five transmissible venereal tumors. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections were stained using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) immunoperoxidase technique for reactivity with S-100 protein, kappa and lambda immunoglobulin light chains, alpha-1-antitrypsin, alpha-1-antichymotrypsin, leukocyte common antigen (LCA), neuron-specific enolase, keratin, cytokeratin, muramidase, and vimentin. Detection of S-100, kappa and lambda light chains, neuron-specific enolase, and vimentin were most useful for screening these neoplasms. None of the markers examined was consistent in staining histiocytomas. While reactivity of S-100 (ten cases) and neuron-specific enolase (ten cases) was detected in some amelanotic melanomas, lambda light chain immunoglobulin (eight cases) was relatively consistent in cutaneous lymphomas. Mast cell neoplasms reacted with avidin and, therefore, were positive, even on negative control sections. Vimentin reacted strongly on all amelanotic melanomas and transmissible venereal tumors examined. These antibodies are helpful adjuncts in the differential diagnosis of canine skin tumors.
Immunohistochemical Demonstration of Keratin in Canine Neuroepithelioma
Authors: Baumgärtner W. , Peixoto P. V.
Published: January 2017

Morphological features and immunoreactivity for cytokeratin (CK), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) of three canine neuroepitheliomas and three canine ependymomas were investigated. Neuroepitheliomas were in three German shepherds as intradural-extramedullary solitary masses, with spinal cord displacement between T10 and L2. Histologically, they contained tubules and acini, lined by epithelial cells with focal squamous metaplasia, rosette-like structures, and polygonal to spindle-shaped cells between tubules. Acini were empty or filled with a homogeneous, eosinophilic periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive material. Mitotic indices varied from low to moderate. Ependymomas occurred in the third (two cases) and fourth ventricle in adult boxers. Histologically, they were composed of cells with an ill-defined, scant amphophilic cytoplasm, with a central round euchromatic nucleus; cells formed pseudorosettes, with a central fibro-vascular stroma. Neuroepitheliomas stained for CK, but ependymomas did not. Both failed to stain for GFAP, NSE, or phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin (PTAH). Thus, antibodies to cytokeratin are useful to distinguish neuroepitheliomas from ependymomas.
Kleingrass (Panicum coloratum L.) Poisoning in Sheep
Authors: Bridges C. H. , Camp B. J. , Livingston C. W. , Bailey E. M.
Published: January 2017

Twenty-four lambs grazing pastures of Panicum coloratum developed photosensitization secondary to hepatic dysfunction. Lesions were necrosis of scattered hepatocytes, obstruction of small bile ducts and bile canaliculi by small aggregates of birefringent crystals, and accumulation of birefringent crystals in phagocytes within sinusoids. The number of crystals in livers of affected sheep varied, depending on the amount of time of exposure to toxic plants and severity of hepatic abnormalities. Crystals in the liver were soluble in acidified ethyl alcohol, acetic acid, pyridine, chloral hydrate, and methanol, but not in xylene, petroleum ether, diethyl ether, acetone, water, or cold ethyl alcohol. Crystals were not stained by oil red O. There was necrosis of epithelial cells in renal distal convoluted tubules, papillary muscles of the heart, and the adrenal cortex. Lesions of Panicum coloratum-associated disease are similar to those associated with photosensitization induced by Tribulus terrestris, Agave lecheguilla, and Nolina texana.