994 research outputs found

    Measuring takeover premiums in cross-border M&As: insights from Turkey

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    We investigate whether the merger announcement dates provided in a popular Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) database, SDC, serve as accurate event dates for estimating the wealth effects of mergers on target firms located in Turkey. We find that 74% of SDC’s merger announcement dates are preceded by merger-related events such as merger rumors, target firms’ search for potential acquirers, and early stage merger negotiation announcements. Target cumulative abnormal return (CAR) estimates around these early dates are almost twice as large as the CAR estimates around SDC’s merger announcement dates. We argue that our findings have implications for the recently flourishing cross-border M&A literature

    A novel marine radar targets extraction approach based on sequential images and Bayesian Network

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    This research proposes a Bayesian Network-based methodology to extract moving vessels from a plethora of blips captured in frame-by-frame radar images. First, the inter-frame differences or graph characteristics of blips, such as velocity, direction, and shape, are quantified and selected as nodes to construct a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG), which is used for reasoning the probability of a blip being a moving vessel. Particularly, an unequal-distance discretisation method is proposed to reduce the intervals of a blip’s characteristics for avoiding the combinatorial explosion problem. Then, the undetermined DAG structure and parameters are learned from manually verified data samples. Finally, based on the probabilities reasoned by the DAG, judgments on blips being moving vessels are determined by an appropriate threshold on a Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. The unique strength of the proposed methodology includes laying the foundation of targets extraction on original radar images and verified records without making any unrealistic assumptions on objects' states. A real case study has been conducted to validate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed methodology

    Transformation Induced Plasticity TRIP of SAE 52100 Steel during Martensitic and Bainitic Transformations

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    Transformation induced plasticity TRIP of SAE 52100 steel during quenching is investigated both experimentally and theoretically. TRIP parameter K is determined experimentally for both martensitic and bainitic transformations by using the stressed dilatometry technique. A new method for extraction of for an incomplete transformation is suggested for the martensitic transformation. Theoretical calculations using wellestablished models for the TRIP effect and the results from the literature are used for the justification of the results of this work. The results for bainitic transformation is found to be in good agreement with both the literature and theoretical calculations using Leblond`s model. On the other hand, experimentally determined value is found to be significantly different from the literature. Nevertheless, it is still in reasonable agreement with the calculations using Leblond`s model

    On Information Geometrical Structures

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    Information geometry is a modern differential geometric approach to statistics, in particular theory of information. The main motivation for this expository survey article is the lack of compact material that mainly address to mathematical audience because of the interdisciplinary content. Information geometry simply described as applying the techniques of differential geometry to statistical models, represented as manifolds of probability distributions. This can be done either done by putting the concept of divergences on the center or the Fisher metric. This paper is motivated from the latter approach

    Giant Ectopic Ureter Mimicking Pelvic Organ Prolapse: A Case Report

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    Ectopic ureter is one of the most common urinary tract anomalies. We, herein, present a case of a giant ureter with ectopic orifice, mimicking pelvic organ prolapse, which is the first in the literature. A 59-year-old female patient presenting with frequently recurrent urinary tract infection had grade 3 pelvic organ prolapse. On examination, the organ producing the appearance of prolapse was found to be a right ureter of giant size and was obstructed by a large stone at the distal segment. The proximal end of the ureter ended blindly. After exploration, the stone was removed, the ureter was detached from the urethra, and the lumen was tied off and cut 5 cm proximally. At 6 months postoperatively, the patient is being followed up without any clinical problems. In such cases with nonfunctioning renal segment draining proximally, the chance of cure can be obtained without a need for a comprehensive intervention such as total abdominal ureterectomy

    A laboratory study of Equotip surface hardness measurements on a range of sandstones: What influences the values and what do they mean?

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    The Equotip rebound tester is a simple, non‐destructive technique to measure the surface hardness of materials. Having a low impact energy gives the Equotip advantages over the commonly used Schmidt Hammer on weathered rock and stone. In this study we have investigated the influence of different parameters (sample size, moisture content and surface roughness) on the surface hardness values obtained from freshly cut blocks of four types of sandstone. In a series of laboratory experiments both Single Impacts (SIM) and Repeat Impacts (RIM) methods have been used with C and D probes (which have different impact energies). Our results show that whilst sample size is of great importance we find that smaller samples can be reliably evaluated than previously reported. Moisture contents are also found to exert a more important influence on both SIM and RIM results than previously thought, with up to 26% lower hardness values recorded on saturated vs dry sandstone. Conversely, we find that surface roughness (over Sz values of 100 to 800 microns) does not have a significant impact on SIM measurements collected using the D probe. Both SIM and RIM data are found to be good proxies for compressive strength and open porosity, with SIM data collected with the C probe showing the best fits. Data collected using 3D microscopy helps visualize and quantify the small impact marks created by the Equotip and confirms that these are much reduced when using the C vs D probe. The results highlight the benefits of the Equotip to studies of the nature and deterioration of sandstone, the need for careful evaluation of any confounding factors which might influence the values obtained, and illustrate the different advantages of C and D probes

    Could Value-Based Purchasing Approach Be Used in Assessment of Healthcare Delivery Outputs?

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    In spite of increasing expenditures for health services, the lack of improvement in the quality and patient safety at the desired level brought about the search for reform of the reimbursement mechanisms. The main purpose of the present review is a search for a comprehensive answer for the question of "Can Value-based Purchasing (VPB) approach emerged as such kind of quest and applications developed in this context be used to evaluate the outputs of health service delivery?". According to the studies, the VBP approach and especially Hospital Value-based Purchasing Program and Hospital-Acquired Conditions Program which are the two applications developed under this approach can provide effective results in evaluating the outputs in health services and improving quality and patient safety. The data show that the VBP approach in health care has the potential to contribute significantly to improving the quality and patient safety level of the health care service and to keep costs under control. In this context, Hospital Value-based Purchasing and Hospital-Acquired Conditions Programs draw attention in terms of its potential to be implemented especially in the public sphere in our country. The realization of the research and applications in our country aimed at revealing the potential benefits of the mentioned programs will facilitate the evaluation

    Circulating Spexin levels in pregnant women with and without gestational diabetes

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    Background: Several previous studies suggest that SPX plays a role in appetite control and body weight and blood glucose regulation. The aim of this study to determine SPX levels in healthy pregnancies and in gestational diabetes (GDM) and to investigate the association of SPX levels with weight gain and lipid and glucose metabolism in subjects with and without GDM.Methods: A total of 44 women with GDM and 44 women without GDM were randomly enrolled who applied for GDM screening during the 24-28th week of pregnancy. Demographics, blood glucose and lipid profiles and Spexin levels were compared between groups.Results: The mean age, BMI, and weight gain during pregnancy were higher in the GDM group. The LDL cholesterol, Hba1c, SPX and glucose levels in response to OGTT were higher in the GDM group. The SPX levels were correlated with Hba1c and blood glucose levels after OGTT, and were not correlated with the age, BMI, weight gain during pregnancy, lipid parameters, and fasting blood glucose levels in the whole study population.Conclusions: SPX levels were higher in the GDM group compared with non-GDM group and SPX levels were correlated with HbA1c levels and post-OGTT glucose levels but not with fasting glucose levels
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