Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A continuous flaring- to normal-branch transition in Scorpius X-1

We report the first resolved rapid transition from a Flaring Branch Oscillation to a Normal Branch Oscillation in the RXTE data of the Z source Sco X-1. The transition took place on a time scale of ~100 s and was clearly associated to the Normal Branch-Flaring Branch vertex in the color–color diagram. We discuss the results in the context of possible association of the Normal Branch Oscillation with other oscillations known both in Neutron-Star and Black-Hole systems, concentrating on the similarities with the narrow 4–6 Hz oscillations observed at high flux in Black-Hole Candidates.
Taxes and Mistakes: What's in a Sufficient Statistic?

What determines the efficiency cost of taxation in the presence of optimization errors? Employing recent results quantifying efficiency cost when consumers are subject to biases, this paper shows how budget adjustment rules, debiasing, and the nature of tax perception affect efficiency cost. Budget adjustment rules govern how taxpayers meet their budget constraint in spite of misperceptions. Complete consideration of budget adjustment rules shows why simply detecting misperception of taxes is insufficient for welfare. Furthermore, if consumers "debias" at sufficiently high stakes, policymakers' attempts to exploit biases to reduce inefficiency — like switching from high- to low-salience taxes — can actually increase inefficiency. Any cognitive costs of debiasing exacerbate this "curse of debiasing. " I demonstrate that the model can be applied to even complicated misperceptions using the example of "ironing," which leads to a clarification of prior welfare analysis of ironing.
The environment of active objects in the nearby Universe

We study the galaxy environment of active galaxies, radio-loud and radio-quiet quasars in the redshift range 0.1 ≤ z ≤ 0.25. We use galaxies from the APM survey in order to explore the local galaxy overdensity and the b J - R colour distribution of neighbouring galaxies of these target samples. For comparison, we perform similar analysis on samples of Abell clusters with X-ray emission, and samples of Abell clusters with richness R = 1 and 0. The projected cross-correlations show that the samples of quasars and active galaxies reside in regions of galaxy density enhancements lower than those typical of R = 0 clusters. We also find that in the nearby Universe the local galaxy overdensities of radio-loud and radio-quiet quasars are comparable. The analysis of the distribution of b J - R galaxy colour indices suggests that the environment of quasars is not strongly dominated by a population of red galaxies, characteristic of rich Abell clusters, an effect that is more clearly appreciated for our sample of radio-loud quasars.
Non-functional requirements elicitation from business process models

Non-Functional Requirements (NFRs) elicitation is a critical stage in software development. Currently there are incipient advances aimed to the NFRs systematic elicitation. This article presents a proposal for the NFRs elicitation from business process models existing in organizations. The main contribution of the approach is to assist the requirements engineer in the systematic NFRs elicitation process using heuristics and templates, designed for this purpose, and organizational knowledge existing in the form of business process models.
The Learning Curve, Market Dominance and Predatory Pricing

Strategic implications of the learning curve hypothesis are analyzed in the context of a price-setting, differentiated duopoly selling to a sequence of heterogeneous buyers with uncertain demands. A unique Markov perfect equilibrium is characterized and sufficient conditions are provided for market dominance to be self-reinforcing. Increasing market dominance implies that learning is privately disadvantageous. Finally, introducing avoidable fixed costs and possible exit into the model yields a new theory of predatory pricing based on the learning curve hypothesis. Copyright 1994 by The Econometric Society.
Foreign Currency Returns and Systematic Risks

We apply an empirical approximation of the intertemporal capital asset pricing model (ICAPM) to show that cross-sectional dispersion in currency returns can be rationalized by differences in currency excess returns’ sensitivities to the market return’s cash-flow news component. This finding echoes recent explanations of the value and growth stock market anomaly. The distinction between cash-flow news and discount-rate news is key to jointly explain average stock and currency returns. Our analysis reveals the presence of a common source of systematic risk in stock and foreign currency returns that is reflected in the market return’s cash-flow news component.
Antiaggregation Potential of Padina gymnospora against the Toxic Alzheimer’s Beta-Amyloid Peptide 25–35 and Cholinesterase Inhibitory Property of Its Bioactive Compounds

Inhibition of β-amyloid (Aβ) aggregation in the cerebral cortex of the brain is a promising therapeutic and defensive strategy in identification of disease modifying agents for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Since natural products are considered as the current alternative trend for the discovery of AD drugs, the present study aims at the evaluation of anti-amyloidogenic potential of the marine seaweed Padina gymnospora. Prevention of aggregation and disaggregation of the mature fibril formation of Aβ 25–35 by acetone extracts of P. gymnospora (ACTPG) was evaluated in two phases by Thioflavin T assay. The results were further confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) analysis and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic analysis. The results of antiaggregation and disaggregation assay showed that the increase in fluorescence intensity of aggregated Aβ and the co-treatment of ACTPG (250 μg/ml) with Aβ 25–35, an extensive decrease in the fluorescence intensity was observed in both phases, which suggests that ACTPG prevents the oligomers formation and disaggregation of mature fibrils. In addition, ACTPG was subjected to column chromatography and the bioactivity was screened based on the cholinesterase inhibitory activity. Finally, the active fraction was subjected to LC-MS/MS analysis for the identification of bioactive compounds. Overall, the results suggest that the bioactive compound alpha bisabolol present in the alga might be responsible for the observed cholinesterase inhibition with the IC50 value < 10 μg/ml for both AChE and BuChE when compared to standard drug donepezil (IC50 value < 6 μg/ml) and support its use for the treatment of neurological disorders.
Current Pathological and Laboratory Considerations in the Diagnosis of Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation

Systemically sustained thrombin generation in vivo is the hallmark of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Typically, this is in response to a progressing disease state that is associated with significant cellular injury. The etiology could be infectious or noninfectious, with the main pathophysiological mechanisms involving cross-activation among coagulation, innate immunity, and inflammatory responses. This leads to consumption of both pro- and anticoagulant factors as well as endothelial dysfunction and disrupted homeostasis at the blood vessel wall interface. In addition to the release of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and soluble thrombomodulin (sTM) following cellular activation and damage, respectively, there is the release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) such as extracellular histones and cell-free DNA. Extracellular histones are increasingly recognized as significantly pathogenic in critical illnesses through direct cell toxicity, the promotion of thrombin generation, and the induction of neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation. Clinically, high circulating levels of histones and histone-DNA complexes are associated with multiorgan failure, DIC, and adverse patient outcomes. Their measurements as well as that of other DAMPs and molecular markers of thrombin generation are not yet applicable in the routine diagnostic laboratory. To provide a practical diagnostic tool for acute DIC, a composite scoring system using rapidly available coagulation tests is recommended by the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis. Its usefulness and limitations are discussed alongside the advances and unanswered questions in DIC pathogenesis.
Multivariate Analysis of the Predictors of Survival for Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Undergoing Transarterial Chemoembolization: Focusing on Superselective Chemoembolization

Objective While the prognostic factors of survival for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) are well known, the clinical significance of performing selective TACE for HCC patients has not been clearly documented. We tried to analyze the potential factors of disease-free survival for these patients, including the performance of selective TACE. Materials and Methods A total of 151 patients with HCC who underwent TACE were retrospectively analyzed for their disease-free survival (a median follow-up of 23 months, range: 1-88 months). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed for 20 potential factors by using the Cox proportional hazard model, including 19 baseline factors and one procedure-related factor (conventional versus selective TACE). The parameters that proved to be significant on the univariate analysis were subsequently tested with the multivariate model. Results Conventional or selective TACE was performed for 40 and 111 patients, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that tumor multiplicity, venous tumor thrombosis and selective TACE were the only three independent significant prognostic factors of disease-free survival (p = 0.002, 0.015 and 0.019, respectively). Conclusion In our study, selective TACE was a favorable prognostic factor for the disease-free survival of patients with HCC who underwent TACE.
Fair Value‐Related Information in Analysts’ Decision Processes: Evidence from the Financial Crisis

We use a sample of conference calls and analyst research reports from international banks to examine how financial analysts request and communicate fair value-related information in their valuation process. We find that analysts devote considerable attention to fair value-related topics. Most of the conference call questions and references in research reports pertain to fair value reclassifications and fair value changes of liabilities resulting from banks’ own credit risk. The accounting impact of these one-time effects during the financial crisis and a lack of corresponding firm disclosures help to explain the prevalence of these two topics. The content of the questions and references suggests that analysts have different motives for their interest in fair value-related information. While some analysts adjust reported earnings for unrecognised fair value changes of reclassified assets, most of the observed analysts exclude banks’ own credit risk effects from reported earnings. Thus, the use of fair value-related information varies substantially across analysts and across instruments.
Physical Disentanglement in a Container-Based File System

We introduce IceFS, a novel file system that separates physical structures of the file system. A new abstraction, the cube, is provided to enable the grouping of files and directories inside a physically isolated container. We show three major benefits of cubes within IceFS: localized reaction to faults, fast recovery, and concurrent file-system updates. We demonstrate these benefits within a VMware-based virtualized environment and within the Hadoop distributed file system. Results show that our prototype can significantly improve availability and performance, sometimes by an order of magnitude.
IIB / M duality and longitudinal membranes in M(atrix) theory

In this paper we study duality properties of the M(atrix) theory compactified on a circle. We establish the equivalence of this theory to the strong coupling limit of type IIB string theory compactified on a circle. In the M(atrix) theory context, our major evidence for this duality consists of identifying the BPS states of IIB strings in the spectrum and finding the remnant symmetry of SL(2,Z) and
Understanding rising caesarean section trends: relevance of inductions and prelabour obstetric interventions at term

Aims: Single center 10-years audit on the relation between labour ward management and caesarean section rate, with special emphasis on the impact of reduced induction rate and the use of strict criteria for the diagnosis of onset of spontaneous labour and the indication for induction of labour. Methods: Retrospective classification of all deliveries between 1st January 2001 and 31st December 2010 in Ziekenhuis Oost Limburg, Genk Belgium, into the 10- group classification according to Robson. Numbers and rate of caesarean sections were defined for primiparous and multiparous women in spontaneous labour (groups 1 and 3 respectively), after induced labour (groups 2 and 4 respectively), with caesarean scar uterus (group 5) or with other gestational complications (groups 6 to 10). For these groups, a 10-years evolution was evaluated. Results: In a total of 19.675 deliveries, the overall caesarean section rate increased from 20% (380/1937) in 2001 to 25% (534/2121) in 2007 (p < 0.001), and decreased again to 20% in 2010 (415/2068) (p < 0.001). The increase of caesarean sections before 2007 was associated with an increase of inductions in singleton cephalic pregnancies at term from 28.5% (410/1437) in 2003 to 35.9% (551/1536) in 2006 (p < 0.001). The decrease of caesarean sections after 2007 occurred both in induced labours, as a direct consequence of rationalised reduction of induction rate, and in spontaneous labours, following introduction of strict criteria for diagnosis of labour. Despite a similar caesarean section rate of 20% in 2001 and 2010, the 6.6% (136/2068) repeat caesarean section rate in 2010 was higher than 4.2% (81/1937) in 2001 (p = 0.001). Conclusion: This single centre audit illustrates that increased induction rate is associated with increased caesarean section rate. This evolution can be reverted through a rationalised management aiming for reduction of induced labours and improved diagnosis of labour.
Sulfurized Carbon: A Class of Cathode Materials for High Performance Lithium/Sulfur Batteries

Liquid electrolyte lithium/sulfur (Li/S) batteries cannot come into practical applications because of many problems such as low energy efficiency, short cycle life, and fast self-discharge. All these problems are related to the dissolution of lithium polysulfide, a series of sulfur reduction intermediates, in the liquid electrolyte, and resulting parasitic reactions with the Li anode. Covalently binding sulfur onto carbon surface is a solution to completely eliminate the dissolution of lithium polysulfide and make the Li/S battery viable for practical applications. This can be achieved by replacing elemental sulfur with sulfurized carbon as the cathode material. This article reviews the current efforts on this subject and discusses the syntheses, electrochemical properties, and prospects of the sulfurized carbon as a cathode material in the rechargeable Li/S batteries.
The Role of Educational Diversity in Investor Relations

This paper shows the role of educational diversity on investor relations quality and the impact of the latter on the number of shareholder activism incidents a firm encounters. We review literature on marketing, finance, and corporate communications to develop a conceptual framework which we test using a combination of secondary data and primary data collected through a survey and interviews amongst investor relations professionals. The empirical results support the conceptual framework, showing higher investor relations quality levels and lower shareholder activism intensity for companies with educational diverse investor relations teams. In particular the presence of marketing and communication experts in investor relations teams contributes to higher investor relations quality and reduced shareholder activism.
Warped gates: Gating aware scheduling and power gating for GPGPUs

With the widespread adoption of GPGPUs in varied application domains, new opportunities open up to improve GPGPU energy efficiency. Due to inherent application-level inefficiencies, GPGPU execution units experience significant idle time. In this work we propose to power gate idle execution units to eliminate leakage power, which is becoming a significant concern with technology scaling. We show that GPGPU execution units are idle for short windows of time and conventional microprocessor power gating techniques cannot fully exploit these idle windows efficiently due to power gating overhead. Current warp schedulers greedily intersperse integer and floating point instructions, which limit power gating opportunities for any given execution unit type. In order to improve power gating opportunities in GPGPU execution units, we propose a Gating Aware Two-level warp scheduler (GATES) that issues clusters of instructions of the same type before switching to another instruction type. We also propose a new power gating scheme, called Blackout, that forces a power gated execution unit to sleep for at least the break-even time necessary to overcome the power gating overhead before returning to the active state. The combination of GATES and Blackout, which we call Warped Gates, can save 31.6% and 46.5% of integer and floating point unit static energy. The proposed solutions suffer less than 1% performance and area overhead.
Overview of the 2 nd Author Profiling Task at PAN 2014

This overview presents the framework and the results for the Author Profiling task at PAN 2014. Objective of this year is the analysis of the adaptability of the detection approaches when given different genres. For this purpose a corpus with four different parts (subcorpora) has been compiled: social media, Twitter, blogs, and hotel reviews. The construction of the Twitter subcorpus happened in cooperation with RepLab in order to investigate also a reputational perspective. Altogether, the approaches of 10 participants are evaluated.
Assessment against DNS data of a coupled CFD-stochastic model for particle dispersion in turbulent channel flows A .

The accurate prediction of particle transport is a primary safety issue. Tracking particles in Lagrangian fashion can naturally be performed with CFD tools which provide the right framework to follow the paths of particles in complex geometries. The presence of turbulent structures in the fluid complicates the particle tracking problem considerably, because particle trajectories are no longer deterministic and additional modeling of the velocity fluctuations is needed. In the present investigation, a Lagrangian continuous random walk (CRW) model is developed to predict turbulent particle dispersion in wall-bounded flows with prevailing inhomogeneous turbulence. The particle model uses 3D mean flow data from the Fluent CFD code, as well as Eulerian statistics from Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) databases. The turbulent fluid velocities are based on the non-dimensional Langevin equation. The model predictions are compared to the DNS data by Marchioli et al. (2007) who produced detailed statistics of velocity and transfer rates for classes of particles having Stokes numbers between 0.2 and 125 and dispersed in a parallel channel flow with Reτ=150. The model is in very good agreement with the DNS data for the various measures of particle dispersion. The predicted deposition rates are also in good agreement with the widely used experimental correlation of McCoy and Hanratty (1977) and Liu and Agarwal (1974).
Executive Control of Actions Across Time and Space

Many popular psychological accounts attribute adaptive human behavior to an “executive-control” system that regulates a lower-level “impulsive” or “associative” system. However, recent findings argue against this strictly hierarchical view. Instead, executive control of impulsive and inappropriate actions depends on an interplay between multiple basic cognitive processes. The outcome of these processes can be biased in advance. Executive-action control is also strongly influenced by personal experiences in the recent and distant past. Thus, executive control emerges from an interactive and competitive network. Main challenges for future research are to describe and understand these interactions and to put executive-action control in a wider sociocultural and evolutional context.
Board composition and credible voluntary disclosures

This study investigates whether the extent of management voluntary disclosure is viewed as credible by the investors and whether board composition has any influence on the credibility of such disclosure. The research approach involves content analysis of annual reports of 155 Malaysian companies for the year 2002. Regression analyses reveal that the extent of voluntary disclosures does not give sufficient confidence to outside investors and as such does not reflect management's incentives to disclose value relevant information about their companies' current and future earnings. Instead, it indicates that under the influence of controlling owners, independent non-executive directors support these owners in influencing managers to disclose voluntary information for legitimacy purposes. This study advances knowledge on management disclosure behavior in particular agency settings.
Relative muscle mass is inversely associated with insulin resistance and prediabetes. Findings from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

CONTEXT Insulin resistance, the basis of type 2 diabetes, is rapidly increasing in prevalence; very low muscle mass is a risk factor for insulin resistance. OBJECTIVE The aim was to determine whether increases in muscle mass at average and above average levels are associated with improved glucose regulation. DESIGN We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III data. PARTICIPANTS Data from 13,644 subjects in a national study were evaluated. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS We measured homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), blood glycosylated hemoglobin level, prevalence of transitional/pre- or overt diabetes (PDM), and prevalence of overt diabetes mellitus. RESULTS All four outcomes decreased from the lowest quartile to the highest quartile of skeletal muscle index (SMI), the ratio of total skeletal muscle mass (estimated by bioelectrical impedance) to total body weight. After adjusting for age, ethnicity, sex, and generalized and central obesity, each 10% increase in SMI was associated with 11% relative reduction in HOMA-IR (95% confidence interval, 6-15%) and 12% relative reduction in PDM prevalence (95% CI, 1-21%). In nondiabetics, SMI associations with HOMA-IR and PDM prevalence were stronger. CONCLUSIONS Across the full range, higher muscle mass (relative to body size) is associated with better insulin sensitivity and lower risk of PDM. Further research is needed to examine the effect of appropriate exercise interventions designed to increase muscle mass on incidence of diabetes.
Persistence of excitation, RBF approximation and periodic orbits

Satisfying the persistence of excitation (PE) condition is an important, yet challenging problem in system identification and adaptive control. In this paper, it is shown that a regressor vector consisting of radial basis functions can satisfy the PE condition. Specifically, for radial basis function networks (RBFN) constructed on a regular lattice, any periodic orbit that stays within the regular lattice can lead to the satisfaction of a partial PE condition. The significance of this result is that, with the partial PE condition satisfied, accurate RBFN approximation of unknown system dynamics can be achieved in a local region along the periodic orbit. This result will be very useful in identification, control and recognition of nonlinear systems using RBFN.