Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Industries and Stock Return Reversals

This paper documents pervasive evidence of intra-industry reversals in monthly returns. Unlike the conventional reversal strategy based on stock returns relative to the market portfolio, we document intra-industry return reversals that are larger in magnitude, consistently present over time, and prevalent across subgroups of stocks, including large and liquid stocks. These return reversals are driven by order imbalances and noninformational shocks. Consistent with reversals representing compensation for supplying liquidity, intra-industry reversals are stronger following aggregate market declines and volatile times, reflecting binding capital constraints and limited risk-bearing capacity of liquidity providers.
A comparative analysis of the gasification performances of torrefied and untorrefied bagasse: Influence of feed size, gasifier design and operating variables on gasification efficiency

This study conducted a comparative assessment of the gasification performances of torrefied and untorrefied bagasse with emphasis on feed size, gasifier design and operating conditions that would influence gasification efficiency. Torrefaction greatly improved the characteristics of bagasse and had significant impact on its gasification performance. The gasifier design parameters studied were throat angle and throat diameter. Temperature of input air and feed input were the gasifier operating conditions examined in the course of the gasification processes of both torrefied and untorrefied bagasse. These parameters were considered the most critical operating parameters that affect gasifier performance and, correlation between the parameters was established in the course of gasification. The results obtained showed higher gasification efficiency for torrefied bagasse in comparison to untorrefied bagasse under varied conditions of gasification, which was attributed mainly to changes in the characteristics of the torrefied material.
A comparative analysis of the efficiency of change metrics and static code attributes for defect prediction

In this paper we present a comparative analysis of the predictive power of two different sets of metrics for defect prediction. We choose one set of product related and one set of process related software metrics and use them for classifying Java files of the Eclipse project as defective respective defect-free. Classification models are built using three common machine learners: logistic regression, naive Bayes, and decision trees. To allow different costs for prediction errors we perform cost-sensitive classification, which proves to be very successful: >75% percentage of correctly classified files, a recall of >80%, and a false positive rate <30%. Results indicate that for the Eclipse data, process metrics are more efficient defect predictors than code metrics.
Joining the clash or refusing to bash? Bystanders reactions to online celebrity bashing

Researchers, in studies of online news-site commenting, have found a huge number of aggressive comments and have indicated that such comments should be interpreted within the discussion context that other bystanders, such as journalists and other readers, have created. In this study, we aimed to offer insights into bystanders’ reactions to negative news articles and other bystanders’ aggressive comments in the specific context of celebrity news. Therefore, we subjected Flemish celebrity-news articles (N = 69) and the Facebook reactions (N = 5,529) to those articles to a content analysis. First, using a quantitative content analysis, we coded each comment as having a negative, neutral, or positive tone. Next, we conducted a qualitative content analysis, which consisted of a vertical coding phase and a horizontal coding phase, so as to investigate the comments’ content in more depth and to determine which elements resulted in some comments’ negative and even aggressive tone. The results indicate that most readers’ reactions stayed on topic, thus merely contributing to the negative atmosphere that the journalist had already created. However, unlike the journalists, who tended to express their emotions rather subtly, the readers reacted using extreme aggressive language. Furthermore, although these aggressive reader reactions generally seemed to set an aggressive tone for future reactions, some readers broke this aggressive cycle and explicitly disapproved of the aggressive expressions.
Potassium Channel Dysfunction in Cerebral Arteries of Insulin-Resistant Rats Is Mediated by Reactive Oxygen Species

Background and Purpose— Insulin resistance (IR) increases the risk of stroke in humans. One possible underlying factor is cerebrovascular dysfunction resulting from altered K+ channel function. Thus, the goal of this study was to examine K+ channel–mediated relaxation in IR cerebral arteries. Methods— Experiments were performed on pressurized isolated middle cerebral arteries (MCAs) from fructose-fed IR and control rats. Results— Dilator responses to iloprost, which are BKCa channel mediated, were reduced in the IR compared with control arteries (19±2% versus 33±2% at 10−6 mol/L). Similarly, relaxation to the KATP opener pinacidil was diminished in the IR MCAs (17±2%) compared with controls (38±2% at 10−5 mol/L). IR also reduced the KATP channel–dependent component in calcitonin gene-related peptide–induced dilation; however, the magnitude of the relaxation remained unchanged in IR because of a nonspecified K+ channel–mediated compensatory mechanism. In contrast, Kir channel–mediated relaxation elicited by increases in extracellular [K+] (4 to 12 mmol/L) was similar in the control and IR arteries. Blockade of the Kir and Kv channels with Ba2+ and 4-aminopyridine, respectively, constricted the MCAs in both experimental groups with no significant difference. Pretreatment of arteries with superoxide dismutase (200 U/mL) plus catalase (150 U/mL) restored the dilatory responses to iloprost and pinacidil in the IR arteries. Immunoblots showed that the expressions of the pore-forming subunits of the examined K+ channels are not altered by IR. Conclusions— IR induces a type-specific K+ channel dysfunction mediated by reactive oxygen species. The alteration of KATP and BKCa channel–dependent vascular responses may be responsible for the increased risk of cerebrovascular events in IR.
The Tune of Confirmation in Guiding Nurse Students

The purpose of the article is to provide a deeper understanding of the guidance of nursing students from a caring science perspective. The methodological approach is Gadamerian (2004) hermeneutics. Interviews are used in sampling and analyzing data (Kvale, 1996). The main findings were confirmation, reflection, and authority. This article focuses on the phenomenon of confirmation only. The main aspects of confirmation are that it includes genuine interest and care, makes nursing students feel secure and is a key to development, strengthens the relationship in a group and between individuals, and is a good base for reflection.
Nonparametric Maximum Margin Similarity for Semi-Supervised Learning

Nonparametric Label Propagation (LP) has been proven to be effective for semisupervised learning problems, and it predicts the labels for unlabeled data by a harmonic solution of an energy minimization problem which encourages local smoothness of the labels in accordance with the similarity graph. We relate LP to a novel nonparametric maximum margin similarity framework, where LP becomes a special case when the separation parameter is sufficiently large. We provide theoretical result that the hinge loss of a linear classifier at a specific margin in the transformed space is bounded by the hinge loss of the similarity margins in the original space with a high probability. A new Maximum Margin Similarity Graph (MMSG) is presented under this framework for semi-supervised learning, which minimizes the hinge loss of the similarity margins. The experimental results demonstrate its superiority compared to LP.
Impact of Strategies-based Instruction on Inferential, Intrapersonal, and Literacy Skills Development : A Longitudinal Study

The learner-centered nature of strategies-based instruction (SBI), which promote language learning and human growth processes, along with the mental processing hypothesis with its stress on optimal cognitive load as a learning prerequisite, provided the incentive to this study. We investigated the contribution of a one-year-long SBI to the nurturing of intrapersonal skills (psychological outcome), and inferential knowledge and reading ability (educational benefits). Forty undergraduates experienced strategy training (treatment group) and normal reading instruction (control group) for 50 class sessions over two consecutive semesters. The treatment group practiced strategy training and higher-order (critical and creative) reading processing, while the control group experienced traditional instruction mainly focused on comprehension checks, vocabulary development, and writing activities. SBI significantly contributed to the promotion of intrapersonal, reading, and inferential skills, but was ineffective for display knowledge development. The results were accounted for in light of the information processing and mental effort hypotheses and were consistent with human development and education for life paradigms.
Neuroprotective Effects of the Herbal Formula B401 in Both Cell and Mouse Models of Alzheimer's Disease

In this study, we have reported the herbal formula B401 that has neuroprotective effects via multifunction, multitarget characteristics. It is possible that the herbal formula B401 may also provide new insights for AD. Here, we studied protective effects in the Tet-On Aβ 42-GFP SH-SY5Y cell model and the APP/PS1/Tau triple transgenic mouse model by the herbal formula B401. In in vitro experiments, we showed that the herbal formula B401 treatment effectively reduces glutamate-induced excitotoxicity and acetylcholinesterase activity in Tet-On Aβ 42-GFP SH-SY5Y cells. In in vivo experiments, we found that oral B401 treatment effectively ameliorates neurocognitive dysfunctions of 3× Tg-AD mice via motor and cognitive behavior tests. By using magnetic resonance imaging, moorFLPI instruments, and chemiluminescence methods, we reported that oral B401 treatment effectively alleviates brain atrophy, improves subcutaneous blood flow, and reduces blood ROS in 3× Tg-AD mice. As observed from results of immunohistochemistry staining and western blotting, we found that oral B401 treatment significantly enhances expressions of neuroprotective proteins, while reducing expressions of AD derived proteins such as amyloid beta, phosphorylated Tau, neurofibrillary tangles, and 3-nitrotyrosine in the brain of 3× Tg-AD mice. Thus, the herbal formula B401 may have the potential to be developed into optimum TCM for AD patients.
Galaxy groups at 0.3 <=z<= 0.55 - I. Group properties

The evolution of galaxies in groups may have important implications for the evolution of the star formation history of the Universe, since many processes which operate in groups may suppress star formation and the fraction of galaxies in bound groups grows rapidly between z = 1 and the present day. In this paper, we present an investigation of the properties of galaxies in galaxy groups at intermediate redshift (z ∼ 0.4). The groups were selected from the Canadian Network for Observational Cosmology Redshift Survey (CNOC2) redshift survey as described by Carlberg et al., with further spectroscopic follow-up undertaken at the Magellan telescope in order to improve the completeness and depth of the sample. We present the data for the individual groups, and find no clear trend in the fraction of passive galaxies with group velocity dispersion and group concentration. We stack the galaxy groups in order to compare the properties of group galaxies with those of field galaxies at the same redshift. The groups contain a larger fraction of passive galaxies than the field, this trend being particularly clear for galaxies brighter than M B1 < -20 in the higher velocity dispersion groups. In addition, we see evidence for an excess of bright passive galaxies in the groups relative to the field. In contrast, the luminosity functions of the star-forming galaxies in the groups and the field are consistent. These trends are qualitatively consistent with the differences between group and field galaxies seen in the local Universe.
TIM-family Proteins Promote Infection of Multiple Enveloped Viruses through Virion-associated Phosphatidylserine

Human T-cell Immunoglobulin and Mucin-domain containing proteins (TIM1, 3, and 4) specifically bind phosphatidylserine (PS). TIM1 has been proposed to serve as a cellular receptor for hepatitis A virus and Ebola virus and as an entry factor for dengue virus. Here we show that TIM1 promotes infection of retroviruses and virus-like particles (VLPs) pseudotyped with a range of viral entry proteins, in particular those from the filovirus, flavivirus, New World arenavirus and alphavirus families. TIM1 also robustly enhanced the infection of replication-competent viruses from the same families, including dengue, Tacaribe, Sindbis and Ross River viruses. All interactions between TIM1 and pseudoviruses or VLPs were PS-mediated, as demonstrated with liposome blocking and TIM1 mutagenesis experiments. In addition, other PS-binding proteins, such as Axl and TIM4, promoted infection similarly to TIM1. Finally, the blocking of PS receptors on macrophages inhibited the entry of Ebola VLPs, suggesting that PS receptors can contribute to infection in physiologically relevant cells. Notably, infection mediated by the entry proteins of Lassa fever virus, influenza A virus and SARS coronavirus was largely unaffected by TIM1 expression. Taken together our data show that TIM1 and related PS-binding proteins promote infection of diverse families of enveloped viruses, and may therefore be useful targets for broad-spectrum antiviral therapies.
Cosmological singularities, billiards and Lorentzian Kac-Moody algebras

The structure of the general, inhomogeneous solution of (bosonic) Einstein-matter systems in the vicinity of a cosmological singularity is considered. We review the proof (based on ideas of Belinskii-Khalatnikov-Lifshitz and technically simplified by the use of the Arnowitt-Deser-Misner Hamiltonian formalism) that the asymptotic behaviour, as one approaches the singularity, of the general solution is describable, at each (generic) spatial point, as a billiard motion in an auxiliary Lorentzian space. For certain Einstein-matter systems, notably for pure Einstein gravity in any spacetime dimension D and for the particular Einstein-matter systems arising in String theory, the billiard tables describing asymptotic cosmological behaviour are found to be identical to the Weyl chambers of some Lorentzian Kac-Moody algebras. In the case of the bosonic sector of supergravity in 11 dimensional spacetime the underlying Lorentzian algebra is that of the hyperbolic Kac-Moody group E(10), and there exists some evidence of a correspondence between the general solution of the Einstein-three-form system and a null geodesic in the infinite dimensional coset space E(10)/K (E(10)), where K (E(10)) is the maximal compact subgroup of E(10).
A Study on the Performance of Adaptive Modulation and Cross-Layer Design in Cognitive Radio for Fading Channels

Cognitive radio is considered as one of the main enablers for provisioning dynamic and flexible spectrum/channel allocation in wireless communications. On the other hand several physical layer mechanisms such as adaptive modulation, multiple-input multiple output systems, advanced channel coding and/or combinations of them enhance the capacity of wireless networks. However little effort has been put till now in studying the performance gains of physical layer mechanisms with the presence of cognition capabilities. The incorporation of cognitive mechanisms demands more detailed studies for assessing the impact on the spectral efficiency. To this direction, cross-layer combination of such a physical layer with upper layers should be also considered as a case study in a cognitive wireless environment. In this work we present a study on the spectral efficiency of adaptive modulation and coding which is one of the most promising schemes of applying cognitive radio at the physical layer. Besides, we study a cross-layer combination of adaptive modulation with upper layers in the same cognitive context. We prove that the performance gain of cognitive radio over such a physical layer is not negligible.
Attributing uncertainties in simulated biospheric carbon fluxes to different error sources

Estimating the current sources and sinks of carbon and projecting future levels of CO2 and climate require biospheric carbon models that cover the landscape. Such models inevitably suffer from deficiencies and uncertainties. This paper addresses how to quantify errors in modeled carbon fluxes and then trace them to specific input variables. To date, few studies have examined uncertainties in biospheric models in a quantitative fashion that are relevant to landscape‐scale simulations. In this paper, we introduce a general framework to quantify errors in biospheric carbon models that “unmix” the contributions to the total uncertainty in simulated carbon fluxes and attribute the error to different variables. To illustrate this framework we apply and use a simple biospheric model, the Vegetation Photosynthesis and Respiration Model (VPRM), in boreal forests of central Canada, using eddy covariance flux measurement data from two main sites of the Canadian Carbon Program (CCP). We explicitly distinguish between systematic errors (“biases”) and random errors and focus on the impact of errors present in biospheric parameters as well as driver data sets (satellite indices, temperature, solar radiation, and land cover). Biases in downward shortwave radiation accumulated to the most significant amount out of the driver data sets and accounted for a significant percentage of the annually summed carbon uptake. However, the largest cumulative errors were shown to stem from biospheric parameters controlling the light‐use efficiency and respiration‐temperature relationships. This work represents a step toward a carbon model‐data fusion system because in such systems the outcome is determined as much by uncertainties as by the measurements themselves.
Multi-agent learning using Fictitious Play and Extended Kalman Filter

Decentralised optimisation tasks are important components of multi-agent systems. These tasks can be interpreted as n-player potential games: therefore game-theoretic learning algorithms can be used to solve decentralised optimisation tasks. Fictitious play is the canonical example of these algorithms. Nevertheless fictitious play implicitly assumes that players have stationary strategies. We present a novel variant of fictitious play where players predict their opponents' strategies using Extended Kalman filters and use their predictions to update their strategies. We show that in 2 by 2 games with at least one pure Nash equilibrium and in potential games where players have two available actions, the proposed algorithm converges to the pure Nash equilibrium. The performance of the proposed algorithm was empirically tested, in two strategic form games and an ad-hoc sensor network surveillance problem. The proposed algorithm performs better than the classic fictitious play algorithm in these games and therefore improves the performance of game-theoretical learning in decentralised optimisation.
To Relay or Not to Relay: Learning Device-to-Device Relaying Strategies in Cellular Networks

We consider a cellular network where mobile transceiver devices that are owned by self-interested users are incentivized to cooperate with each other using tokens, which they exchange electronically to “buy” and “sell” downlink relay services, thereby increasing the network's capacity compared to a network that only supports base station-to-device (B2D) communications. We investigate how an individual device in the network can learn its optimal cooperation policy online, which it uses to decide whether or not to provide downlink relay services for other devices in exchange for tokens. We propose a supervised learning algorithm that devices can deploy to learn their optimal cooperation strategies online given their experienced network environment. We then systematically evaluate the learning algorithm in various deployment scenarios. Our simulation results suggest that devices have the greatest incentive to cooperate when the network contains (i) many devices with high energy budgets for relaying, (ii) many highly mobile users (e.g., users in motor vehicles), and (iii) neither too few nor too many tokens. Additionally, within the token system, self-interested devices can effectively learn to cooperate online, and achieve up to 20 percent throughput gains on average compared to B2D communications alone, all while selfishly maximizing their own utilities.
Sex‐biased disease dynamics increase extinction risk by impairing population recovery

The periodicity of life‐cycle events (phenology) modulates host availability to pathogens in a repeatable pattern. The effects of sexual differences in host phenology have been little explored in wildlife epidemiological studies. A recent series of ranavirosis outbreaks led to serious declines of Boscas’ newt populations at Serra da Estrela (Portugal). The peculiar phenology of this species, in which a large number of females remain in the aquatic habitat after the breeding season, turns it into a suitable model to test how sex‐biased mortality can affect host population persistence in the context of infectious diseases. We investigated how the phenology of Bosca's newt (i.e. biased number of females) mediated the impact of Ranavirus. We then evaluated the risk of extinction of the population under different scenarios of sex‐biased mortality using a population viability analysis. Two newt populations (one subject to yearly outbreaks and a comparative site where outbreaks have not been recorded) were tracked for trends over time following emergence of ranaviral disease, allowing us to assess the differential impact of the disease on both sexes. In addition to a significant decline in abundance of adult newts, our data suggest that phenology can affect disease dynamics indirectly, leading to reduction in females and a reversal of the sex ratio of the breeding population. Our models suggest that female‐biased mortality does not exacerbate Ranavirus‐driven population declines in the short‐term, but is likely to have a deleterious impact during the recovery process once the lethal effect of disease is removed from the system.