Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transfer learning of tissue photon interaction in optical coherence tomography towardsin vivo histology of the oral mucosa

Oral cancer evolves from different premalignant conditions and the key to save lives is through diagnosis of early symptoms. The conventional practice of post biopsy histopathology reporting is dependent on specificity of sampling site and optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging is clinically used for guidance. Clinicians infer the tissue constitution by interpreting intensity images and are challenged by inter-and intra-observer variability. In this paper we propose transfer learning of tissue specific photon interaction statistical physics in swept-source OCT for characterizing the oral mucosa with the aim of reducing this reporting variability. The source task models statistical physics of ballistic and near-ballistic photons and its intensity attenuation and target task learns the parameters obtained by solving the source task to identify co-located heterogeneity of tissues. Performance is compared with conventional histopathology of healthy, premalignant and malignant oral lesions supporting its use towards in vivo histology of the oral mucosa for pre-biopsy screening.
Analisis faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi penyerapan tenaga kerja di Provinsi Riau

This research was conducted in Riau Province, aims to look at the influence of foreign investment, economic growth, the provincial minimum wage, and the average length of the school either simultaneously or partially to labor absorption in Riau province. Economic growth is always directed to improve the lives and well-being of society. Expansion of labor absorption needed to keep pace with the growth of young people who enter the labor market. The imbalance between labor force growth and job creation will lead to high unemployment. This research uses secondary data types. The method of analysis used in this research is descriptive quantitative method, as a simultaneously and partially analysis (multiple linear regression analysis using SPSS version 18.0). The results of the testing that has been done, simultaneous regression (F test) showed that all the independent variables have a significant effect on the dependent variable. The results of the partial regression test (t test) showed that only variable Average Length of School who have a significant effect on labor absorption in Riau province. While the variable Foreign Investment, Economic Growth and Provincial Minimum Wage has no significant effect on labor absorption in Riau province. The magnitude of the effect caused by the four independent variables together on the dependent variable was 82,9%, while the remaining 17,1% is influenced by other variables not examined in this research. Keywords : Foreign Investment, Economic Growth, The Provincial Minimum Wage, Average Length of The School, and Labor Absorption
Performance of Indian Economy and the Global Financial Crisis: An empirical Analysis

This paper empirically examines the impact of current world-wide recession on India’s growth. The data for this study were compiled from RBI and Central Statistical Organisation (CSO). The paper has applied regression technique with GDP as dependent variable, while exports, imports, FDI and FII were taken as independent variables. Prior to regression analysis, all the variables are tested for stationarity, applying Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) test. The data sets were also tested for seasonality by applying auxiliary regression. Because of the problem of multicolinearity among the independent variables, three models, dropping one of the highly collinear variables, were estimated. The results suggest that financial crisis has adversely impacted India’s GDP although imports, exports and FDI were found to have exercised stimulating influence through technological spillovers and other externalities. The paper suggests that recovery of global economy is extremely important for Indian economic growth although the effects of global slow down could be minimized through the use of stimulant fiscal and monetary measures.
Exploring the influence of the family upon firm performance: Does strategic behaviour matter?

This article critically analyses the fit between decision-making and strategy in the performance of family firms. Based on a configurative methodology, survey data were collected from privately owned firms. From analysis of this data, we conclude that the advantages and disadvantages of family participation within the business must acknowledge the strategic context utilised by the firm to compete in the marketplace. Family firms perform better if they follow a product/reputation differentiation strategy and balance their family and business-oriented decision-making, or if they follow a low-cost strategy and put the business first in their decision-making.
The impact of HRM practices on service quality, customer satisfaction and performance in the Indian hotel industry

The paper investigates the effects of HRM practices on service quality, customer satisfaction and performance in the hotel industry. A conceptual model is developed and four research hypotheses are empirically examined using structural equation modelling. The data were collected via a survey of Indian based hotels. 52 hotels in India responded to questionnaires pooling 52 HR managers 260 employees (5 from each hotel) and 260 customers (5 from each hotel). The results indicate that HRM practices have a positive influence on the improvement of service quality as well as on customer satisfaction and hotel performance. The study further testified the relationship among them, and provides useful information for future hotel management needs. The findings indicate that creation of customer satisfaction∖value in the hotel can be achieved via increasing responsiveness to customers' needs and that the creation of customer value which have a positive impact in the firm's profitability. The results suggest that HRM practices improve hotel service effectiveness and in consequence firm performance replicates and extends in a HRM context research. The study also suggests that management should emphasis on the development of intra-departmental learning and relational capabilities. The findings of this study are important for the hotel industry as the sector is faced with increasing competitive pressures in a highly fragmented, high growth market, and challenges that threaten its viability as evidenced by recent consolidations, merger & acquisition, franchising and foreign collaboration, etc. Further, in terms of theoretical contributions, this research suggests that HRM improvements are as much an outcome of technical and operational measures as they are of managerial, organizational and inter-organizational capabilities. Finally, the study paves the way for further research that would integrate HRM practices and operational factors in the context of analysing improvements in service quality, retaining customers and hotel performance.
The impacts of corporate ownership structure on the incentive of using capital structure to signal

Purpose - This paper attempts to investigate what kind of firms is more likely to use capital structure to signal; and in particular to investigate the impacts of corporate ownership structures on firms' capital structure signalling decisions. Design/methodology/approach - The paper develops theoretical models and then uses OLS multiple regression, piecewise regression and logistic regression analysis on a set of data derived from 327 UK firms listed in the FTSE ALL share index to test the hypotheses. Findings - The empirical results show that capital structure is not homogeneously used as a signalling tool; and firms with insider ownerships less or equal to 1.14 per cent are more likely the signallers. Research limitations/implications - Although other variables have been examined, this paper focuses on the impacts of insider ownership on capital structure signalling. Further work is required to investigate other variables that are mentioned but they are outside the scope of this paper. Practical implications - This paper provides useful practical insights to both managers and investors to help them better understand and interpret firms' capital structure signals. Originality/value - Before this paper, most people commonly agreed that capital structure contains signalling values. However, the findings suggest that it is not always the case.
The Chinese Export Boom: An Examination of the Detailed Trade Data

From 2000 to 2007, Chinese exports grew at a phenomenal pace. Our paper uses finely detailed Chinese export data (8-digit Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System codes) combined with US trade data to explore how this was achieved. Although general explanations such as China’s exchange rate policy no doubt played a role, we find that sector-specific stories, effective Chinese industrial policy and fortuitous timing were more critical. The detailed trade data reveal that “new” technology goods, such as cell phones, LCD screens and laptops, played a key role. Finally, we use the data to examine the relationship between Chinese exports and global manufacturing, in particular US manufacturing employment. We find that competition from China in both domestic and foreign markets likely contributed to a significant decline in USA manufacturing employment, but that relatively low US investment and slow GDP growth in the US following the 2001 recession played an equally important role.
TESTS OF UNIT ROOTS AND COINTEGRATION HYPOTHESES IN ECONOMETRIC MODELS

A number of statistical procedures for testing the unit roots hypotheses and the cointegration hypothesis have been proposed by statisticians and econometricians. This paper unifies many of the previous studies on unit roots tests and cointegration tests in the framework of a multivariate regression model and develops some new test statistics. We give a convenient quadratic representation of the limiting distributions of test statistics using stochastic integrals with respect to Brownian motions. The test procedures in this paper include the statistics for testing the unit root, the double unit roots, the seasonal unit roots, and the cointegrating relations for special cases. We also discuss some useful generalizations of unit roots tests and cointegration tests for empirical studies.
Output Dynamics in Real-Business-Cycle Models

The time series literature reports two stylized facts about output dynamics in the United States. GNP growth is positively autocorrelated over short horizons and negatively autocorrelated over longer horizons, and GNP has an important trend reverting component which has a hump-shaped moving average representation. We consider whether various real business cycle (RBC) models are consistent with these stylized facts. ; We find that many RBC models have weak internal propagation mechanisms and must rely on exogenous factors to replicate both stylized facts. In particular, intertemporal substitution, capital accumulation, and capital adjustment costs do not provide strong sources of propagation. Models which incorporate employment lags or labor adjustment costs are partially successful. They endogenously generate roughly the right pattern of autocorrelation in output growth, and they generate a small humpshaped trend reverting component in output. However, they must rely on implausibly large transitory shocks to match the large trend reverting component found in U.S. data. Our results suggest that RBC theorists ought to devote further attention to the problem of modeling propagation mechanisms.
N‐Acetyl Cysteine Has Both Gastro‐Protective and Anti‐Inflammatory Effects in Experimental Rat Models: Its Gastro‐Protective Effect Is Related to Its In Vivo and In Vitro Antioxidant Properties

N‐acetyl cysteine (NAC), a metabolite of sulphur‐containing amino acid cysteine, is used as an antioxidant and a mucolytic agent. Therefore, we aimed to investigate anti‐inflammatory and anti‐ulcerative effects of NAC. We also intended to determine the relation between antiulcer effect of NAC and its antioxidant properties by biochemical evaluation. In this study a total of 15 rat groups (n = 6 per group) were used for inflammation and ulcer experiments. Anti‐inflammatory effects of NAC have been investigated on six rat groups with carrageenan (CAR)‐induced paw oedema model. Antiulcer effects of NAC have been investigated on 24 h fasted nine rat groups with IND‐induced ulcer model in the presence of positive (LAN, RAN, FAM, and OMEP), negative (untreated IND group) and intact control groups. In biochemical analyses of stomach tissues; glutathione S‐transferase (GST), catalase (CAT), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation (LPO) and the glutathione (GSH) levels were determined. All doses of NAC exerted significant anti‐inflammatory effect; even the effect of 900 mg/kg NAC was similar with that of DIC and IND. In gastric tissues NAC administration decreased the level of LPO and activity of CAT, which were increased by IND. Furthermore, NAC increased the GSH level and SOD and GST activities, which decreased in ulcerous stomach tissues. Only MPO activity increased in both IND and NAC groups when compared to healthy rat group. We determined that NAC has both anti‐inflammatory and anti‐ulcerative effects. J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 308–319, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Vitamin D3 inhibits expression and activities of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 in human uterine fibroid cells.

STUDY QUESTION Can biologically active vitamin D3 [1,25(OH)₂D3] regulate the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in human uterine fibroid cells? SUMMARY ANSWER 1,25(OH)₂D3 effectively reduced the expression and activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in cultured human uterine fibroid cells. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Uterine fibroids (leiomyoma) express higher levels of MMP activity than adjacent normal myometrium, and this is associated with uterine fibroid pathogenesis. However, it is unknown whether 1,25(OH)₂D3 can regulate the expression and activities of MMPs in human uterine fibroid cells. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Surgically removed fresh fibroid tissue was used to generate primary uterine fibroid cells. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS An immortalized human uterine fibroid cell line (HuLM) and/or primary human uterine fibroid cells isolated from fresh fibroid tissue were used to examine the expression of several MMPs, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP) 1 and 2 and the activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 after 1,25(OH)₂D3 treatment. Real-time PCR and western blots analyses were used to measure mRNA and protein expression of MMPs, respectively. Supernatant cell culture media were analyzed for MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities using a gelatin zymography assay. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE 1-1000 nM 1,25(OH)₂D3 significantly reduced mRNA levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in HuLM cells in a concentration-dependent manner (P < 0.5 to P < 0.001). The mRNA levels of MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-13 and MMP-14 in HuLM cells were also reduced by 1,25(OH)₂D3. 1,25(OH)₂D3 significantly reduced MMP-2 and MMP-9 protein levels in a concentration-dependent manner in both HuLM and primary uterine fibroid cells (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001). Moreover, 1,25(OH)₂D3 increased the mRNA levels of vitamin D receptor (VDR) and TIMP-2 in a concentration-dependent manner in HuLM cells (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01). 1,25(OH)₂D3 also significantly increased protein levels of VDR and TIMP-2 in all cell types tested (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001). Gelatin zymography revealed that pro-MMP-2, active MMP-2 and pro-MMP-9 were down-regulated by 1,25(OH)₂D3 in a concentration-dependent manner; however, the active MMP-9 was undetectable. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION This study was performed using in vitro uterine fibroid cell cultures and the results were extrapolated to in vivo situation of uterine fibroids. Moreover, in this study the interaction of vitamin D3 with other regulators such as steroid hormone receptors was not explored. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS This study reveals an important biological function of 1,25(OH)₂D3 in the regulation of expression and activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Thus, 1,25(OH)₂D3 might be a potential effective, safe non-surgical treatment option for human uterine fibroids.
Default Risk and the Duration of Zero Coupon Bonds

This paper applies a contingent claims approach to examine the duration of a zero coupon bond subject to default risk. One replicating portfolio for a default-prone zero coupon bond contains a long position in the default-free asset plus a short position in a put option on the underlying assets. The duration of the bond is shown to be a weighted combination of the duration of the default-free bond and the put option. The duration is less than maturity and is not an immunizing duration. The technique is then extended to subordinated debt. Copyright 1990 by American Finance Association.
Do Indian Banks Understate their Bad Loans?

Did banking sector reforms in India and the adoption of capital adequacy norms based on the Basel Capital Accord prompt Indian banks to understate their bad loans? This paper addresses this question by investigating whether Indian banks under provide for loan loss provisions and understate their gross non performing assets in order to boost earnings and capital adequacy ratios. The paper examines the behavior of Indian banks in the context of tighter regulatory standards that became effective after 1999. The results show that "weak" Indian banks – defined by low profitability and low capital ratios camouflaged the magnitude of their gross non performing assets in the post-1999 period. Based on this the paper concludes that the true nature of India's bad loan problem may be more serious than alluded to in recent studies.
Effects of service quality and customer satisfaction on customer loyalty in high-speed rail services in Taiwan

Service quality and customer satisfaction as perceived by 1235 passengers on high-speed rail (HSR) services in Taiwan were examined using structural equation modeling (SEM) to explain customer loyalty. The relationships among the constructs in the SEM model were tested, namely: service quality, customer satisfaction and customer loyalty. Results indicated that the five service quality attributes in HSR services with which passengers most agreed were car cleanness, followed by neat appearance of employee, employee service attitude, comfort of air conditioning, and on-time performance. Findings also revealed that service quality had a positive effect on customer satisfaction and customer loyalty, while customer satisfaction had a positive effect on customer loyalty. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings for HSR services are discussed.
Comparison of Fucithalmic viscous eye drops and Chloramphenicol eye ointment as a single treatment in corneal abrasion.

PURPOSE To compare the healing of the cornea and the incidence of infection after traumatic corneal epithelial defect after single treatment with double bandage combined with either Fucithalmic single unit dose eye drops or chloramphenicol eye ointment. METHODS This is a single-centre, randomised, single-blind, parallel-group study of 144 patients with accidental corneal abrasion or corpus alieni cornea who were referred to the Eye Department at Gentofte Hospital. The injured eye was examined with a photo slit-lamp before and 24 hours after treatment. The size of the abrasion was recorded and calculated on a PCX computerized video system and by slit-lamp photography. RESULTS & CONCLUSION The Fucithalmic and chloramphenicol ointment treated groups showed no significant difference in corneal healing, local side effects, or signs of local infection.
Deflating the Dream: Radical Risk and the Neoliberalization of Homeownership

ABSTRACT: This article explores the contributions of neoliberal practice to the expansion of homeownership and the foreclosure crisis to illuminate the contradictions between the rhetorical goals of homeownership and the actual experiences of new homeowners. In doing so we explore the theories and practices that homeowners deploy to try to survive and keep their lives together. First, we review the aspects of housing policy in neoliberal regimes that led many of the homeowners we studied into both homeownership and foreclosure. In the second part, we analyze conversations from 14 focus groups in five cities with homeowners threatened with foreclosure to understand how neoliberal rhetoric and practices participated in their buying and potentially losing their homes and how they come to understand and act on their experiences of threat and failure. We conclude by redefining the foreclosure crisis and discussing the political moment of challenge to neoliberalism it created.
Aggregate shocks decomposition for eight East Asian countries

All economies experience peaks and troughs in their business cycles. This paper examines eight East Asian economies, employing a Bayesian dynamic factor model that allows the decomposition of aggregate shocks into country-specific, regional and world common business cycles. It therefore allows the identification of causes for major events experienced by these countries. Empirical evidences show that country-specific factors are the most important in determining the major events for all the countries examined here, implying the need for each country to rely more heavily on its own independent counter-cyclical policies. Although the regional factor plays a less important role than the country-specific factor, it accounts for a sizeable share in the output fluctuation of the region. The regional factor is most prevalent for Singapore, Korea, Malaysia and Thailand, indicating that a regional coordinated policy is rather more effective for these economies to respond to disturbances. The world factor explains only around 7% of the output variation in East Asia, which might explain why the East Asian economies are relatively insulated from the recent global financial crisis.
Rights Issues and Creeping Acquisitions in India

We analyze the extent to which promoters of firms listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange are using rights issues to circumvent regulatory provisions related to creeping acquisitions. We find that promoters use rights issues that do not have specific objectives for purposes of realizing an increase in their shareholdings. We find that a rights issue often follows a year in which the promoter has realized a loss of shareholdings. The results are especially true for firms belonging to a business group.