Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Why Invest in Emerging Markets? The Role of Conditional Return Asymmetry

We propose a quantile-based measure of conditional skewness, particularly suitable for handling recalcitrant emerging market (EM) returns. The skewness of international stock market returns varies significantly across countries over time, and persists at long horizons. In EMs, skewness is mostly positive and idiosyncratic, and significantly relates to a country's financial and trade openness and balance of payments. In an international portfolio setting, return asymmetry leads to sizeable certainty-equivalent gains and increases the weight on emerging countries to about 30%. Investing in EMs seems to be about expectations of a higher upside than downside, consistent with recent theories.
A Calderón Multiplicative Preconditioner for the PMCHWT Integral Equation

Electromagnetic scattering by penetrable bodies often is modelled by the Poggio-Miller-Chan-Harrington-Wu-Tsai (PMCHWT) integral equation. Unfortunately the spectrum of the operator involved in this equation is bounded neither from above or below. This implies that the equation suffers from dense discretization breakdown; that is, the condition numbers of the matrix resulting upon discretizing the equation rise with the mesh density. The electric field integral equation, often used to model scattering by perfect electrically conducting bodies, is susceptible to a similar breakdown phenomenon. Recently, this breakdown was cured by leveraging the Calderón identities. In this paper, a Calderón preconditioned PMCHWT integral equation is introduced. By constructing a Calderón identity for the PMCHWT operator, it is shown that the new equation does not suffer from dense discretization breakdown. A consistent discretization scheme involving both Rao-Wilton-Glisson and Buffa-Christiansen functions is introduced. This scheme amounts to the application of a multiplicative matrix preconditioner to the classical PMCHWT system, and therefore is compatible with existing boundary element codes and acceleration schemes. The efficiency and accuracy of the algorithm are corroborated by numerical examples.
An Historical Analysis of Continual Change

We use a systemic process model of continual change to examine patterns of continuity and discontinuity in the policy processing systems of four auto insurance companies. The model draws on theories of deep structure, inertia and punctuated equilibrium. It demonstrates how variation across the units of an organization resulting from diversity in local competitive environments, coupled with continual changes, creates emergent and dynamic patterns of influence at the unit and organizational system level that complicate the innovation diffusion process. Field research using historical methods for data collection enabled us to trace the development of each organizationâs primary processing system back to its beginnings and provided substantive support for the oscillations that organizations face as they struggle with the tension between the need to innovate and the complexity that results. The model provides a sensitizing lens that reveals the tensions between the need to differentiate products to address local competitive needs and the role of standards, which enable units to more easily share existing processes and to adopt wholesale system changes en mass.
The threat of professional obsolescence: How do professionals at different career stages experience it and cope with it?

The accelerated rate of scientific and technological progress puts heavy demands on professionals. To be able to function effectively in the world of modern technology, professionals must continuously update their knowledge and skills so that they do not stay behind and are not threatened by obsolescence. Managers and human resource practitioners need to understand how the threat of obsolescence is perceived, and what professionals actually do to alleviate this threat. An exploratory study, based on in-depth interviews with 50 professionals in the Israeli high-tech industry, identified a variety of meanings that professionals assign to the threat of obsolescence, and a variety of updating activities in which they engage in order to cope with these threats. First, three meaning categories were identified: threat in the context of the self, threat in the immediate social context, and threat in the context of the job market. The essence and prevalence of these meanings were different at different career stages. Second, three types of updating resources were identified: structured opportunities, information material, and interpersonal exchange. Both the availability and the utilization of these resources varied with career stage. Implications of the multifaceted view of obsolescence to the management of professional human resources are discussed.
Anatomical and nutlet differentiation between Teucrium montanum and T. polium from Turkey

Teucrium montanum L. and T. polium L. are the two closest Teucrium L. species from sect. Polium (Mill.) Schreb in Turkey. In addition, they are sympatric for some part of their range in Turkey. In this study, comparative anatomical and micromorphological studies of the two species are carried out. They have been investigated by their leaf and stem anatomical features, as well as nutlet micromorphological characteristics. The results of anatomical studies show that the anatomical characters of both taxa are observed to be similar to the general features of the family Lamiaceae anatomy, except for lacking rich collenchyma at the corners. Both taxa are similar in stem anatomy and their leaves exhibit xeromorphy. However, trichome morphology on the stems and the leaves appear to have a taxonomic value in segregation of the two taxa. Light and scanning electron microscope studies on the nutlets also show that nutlet shapes, measures and surface micromorphologies are different in the two species. Whereas nutlet surfaces are bireticulate in both species, the nutlets are larger and primary sculpturing is more distinct in T. polium than in T. montanum. Moreover, the nutlets are oblong to oblong-ovoid and larger in T. polium, but ovoid and smaller in T. montanum.
Normative Study of the Functional Assessment of Verbal Reasoning and Executive Strategies (FAVRES) Test in the French-Canadian Population.

Purpose The Functional Assessment of Verbal Reasoning and Executive Strategies (FAVRES; MacDonald, 2005) test was designed for use by speech-language pathologists to assess verbal reasoning, complex comprehension, discourse, and executive skills during performance on a set of challenging and ecologically valid functional tasks. A recent French version of this test was translated from English; however, it had not undergone standardization. The development of normative data that are linguistically and culturally sensitive to the target population is of importance. The present study aimed to establish normative data for the French version of the FAVRES, a commonly used test with native French-speaking patients with traumatic brain injury in Québec, Canada. Method The normative sample consisted of 181 healthy French-speaking adults from various regions across the province of Québec. Age and years of education were factored into the normative model. Results Results indicate that age was significantly associated with performance on time, accuracy, reasoning subskills, and rationale criteria, whereas the level of education was significantly associated with accuracy and rationale. Conclusion Overall, mean scores on each criterion were relatively lower than in the original English version, which reinforces the importance of using the present normative data when interpreting performance of French speakers who have sustained a traumatic brain injury.
City Image and Perceived Tourism Impact: Evidence from Port Louis, Mauritius

Research suggests that the images residents hold about their community influence the political support for tourism. Yet, few researchers have investigated the image that local residents have of their own area. Borrowing from the existing literature on place image and residents' perceptions of tourism impacts, a theoretical model incorporating these two lines of research is developed and tested using data collected from residents of the city of Port Louis, Mauritius. It proposes four city image attributes as the independent constructs influencing residents' perceptions toward the overall impact of tourism development. These include social attributes, transport attributes, government services attributes, and shopping attributes. Overall impact of tourism development is considered to be a determinant of the level of support for the industry. Results of the structural equation modeling analysis indicate that residents' perceived levels of shopping attributes, transport attributes, and social attributes of the city influence their level of support for the tourism industry. The hypothesis relating transport attributes to overall impacts of tourism was not supported. The study provides some important considerations for local planners attempting to make tourism more supportive in the city.
Public attitudes towards privacy and surveillance in Croatia

This paper investigates public attitudes towards privacy, data protection, surveillance and security in Croatia. The public opinion survey assesses the value privacy may have for the individuals and if privacy is recognized as a social and political value. Four principal groups of privacy violations are covered in the survey: information collection, information processing, information dissemination and invasion. Citizens’ awareness of the data protection issues and related confidence in government and business practices are examined as well. Furthermore, this paper investigates if public attitudes towards surveillance in Croatia are in favor of the “nothing to hide” argument. Based on empirical data, the findings indicate that there are three groups of Croatian citizens with different opinions: “pro-surveillance” oriented citizens; citizens concerned about being surveilled; and citizens concerned about data and privacy protection. Identified groups of citizens differ in demographics. Policy implications of the research results are discussed in the paper.
Effect of Erythromycin Analogues on Binding of [14C]Erythromycin to Escherichia coli Ribosomes

The relative ability of 44 erythromycin analogues to bind to ribosomes was determined by their effect on [14C]erythromycin binding to Escherichia coli ribosomes. The association and dissociation constants of each of these erythromycin derivatives were determined as well as their interaction coefficient for their binding to ribosomes. Substitutions were made on various portions of the erythromycin molecule with retention of substantial activity as measured by inhibition of [14C]erythromycin binding to ribosomes. Since the effect of erythromycin analogues on [14C]erythromycin binding to ribosomes provides a relatively sensitive assay for these compounds, erythromycin analogues with relatively little affinity for ribosomes could be detected. Compounds with association constants of 104 M−1 were detectable; the association constant for erythromycin binding to ribosomes was approximately 108 M−1. Thus, compounds with 0.0001 the association constant of erythromycin were detectable. This assay could be used alone or in conjunction with microbiological assays for primary screening of active analogues or other compounds which interfere with [14C]erythromycin binding to ribosomes. It permits an estimate of the general activity of compounds rapidly and directly. Variables such as metabolic modifications of the compounds and permeability are excluded. The present assay reflects the ability of the compounds to interact directly with their target organelle and may serve as a useful adjunct in developing new compounds.
Space Fortress game training and executive control in older adults: A pilot intervention

ABSTRACT We investigated the feasibility of using the Space Fortress (SF) game, a complex video game originally developed to study complex skill acquisition in young adults, to improve executive control processes in cognitively healthy older adults. The study protocol consisted of 36 one-hour game play sessions over 3 months with cognitive evaluations before and after, and a follow-up evaluation at 6 months. Sixty participants were randomized to one of three conditions: Emphasis Change (EC) – elders were instructed to concentrate on playing the entire game but place particular emphasis on a specific aspect of game play in each particular game; Active Control (AC) – game play with standard instructions; Passive Control (PC) – evaluation sessions without game play. Primary outcome measures were obtained from five tasks, presumably tapping executive control processes. A total of 54 older adults completed the study protocol. One measure of executive control, WAIS-III letter–number sequencing, showed improvement in performance from pre- to post-evaluations in the EC condition, but not in the other two conditions. These initial findings are modest but encouraging. Future SF interventions need to carefully consider increasing the duration and or the intensity of the intervention by providing at-home game training, reducing the motor demands of the game, and selecting appropriate outcome measures.
Do Australian hedge fund managers possess timing abilities?

This article focuses on the performance of Australian hedge funds. Using a survivorship bias free sample, we investigate whether Australian hedge fund managers have the ability to outguess the market. Specifically, we test the market timing and volatility timing skills of fund managers. Our findings show that Australian hedge fund managers do not possess market timing skills, but they do exhibit superior stock selection ability. Our findings also show that while Australian managers do not have market volatility timing skills, their US counterparts do exhibit such skills.
Moderate alcohol consumption and the risk of breast cancer.

In 1980, 89,538 U.S. women 34 to 59 years of age, with no history of cancer, completed an independently validated dietary questionnaire that included the use of beer, wine, and liquor. During the ensuring four years, 601 cases of breast cancer were diagnosed among cohort members. Among the women consuming 5 to 14 g of alcohol daily (about three to nine drinks per week), the age-adjusted relative risk of breast cancer was 1.3 (95 percent confidence limits, 1.1 and 1.7). Consumption of 15 g of alcohol or more per day was associated with a relative risk of 1.6 (95 percent confidence limits, 1.3 and 2.0; Mantel extension chi for linear trend = +4.2; P less than 0.0001). Adjustment for known breast cancer risk factors and a variety of nutritional variables did not materially alter this relation. Significant associations were observed for beer and liquor when considered separately. Among women without risk factors for breast cancer who were under 55 years of age, the relative risk associated with consumption of 15 g of alcohol or more per day was 2.5 (95 percent confidence limits, 1.5 and 4.2). These prospective data derived from measurements of alcohol intake recorded before the diagnosis of breast cancer confirm the findings of several previous case-control studies. Viewed collectively, they suggest that alcohol intake may contribute to the risk of breast cancer.
Elucidation of Molecular Events Mediating Induction of Apoptosis by Synthetic Retinoids Using a CD437-resistant Ovarian Carcinoma Cell Line*

Retinoids have great promise in the area of cancer therapy and chemoprevention. Although some tumor cells are sensitive to the growth inhibitory effect of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA), many ovarian tumor cells are not. 6-((1-Admantyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-naphthalenecarboxylic acid (CD437) is a conformationally restricted synthetic retinoid that induces growth arrest and apoptosis in both ATRA-sensitive and ATRA-resistant ovarian tumor cell lines. To better understand the mechanism by which CD437 induces apoptosis in ovarian tumor cell lines, we prepared a cell line, CA-CD437R, from the ATRA-sensitive ovarian cell line, CA-OV-3, which was resistant to CD437. We found that the CD437-resistant cell line was also resistant to the induction of apoptosis by tumor necrosis factor-α but not resistant to the induction of apoptosis by another synthetic retinoid, fenretinideN-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide. We also show that this cell line remains ATRA-sensitive and exhibits no deficiencies in RAR function. Analysis of this CD437-resistant cell line suggests that the pathway for induction of apoptosis by CD437 is similar to the pathway utilized by tumor necrosis factor-α and different from the pathway induced by the synthetic retinoid, fenretinideN-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide. The CA-CD437R cell line is a valuable tool, permitting us to further elucidate the molecular events that mediate apoptosis induced by CD437 and other synthetic retinoids. Results of experiments utilizing this cell line suggest that the alteration responsible for resistance of CA-CD437R cells to CD437 induced event maps after the activation of p38 and TR3 expression, prior to mitochondrial depolarization, subsequent release of cytochromec and activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3.
Orofacial Herpes Simplex Virus Infection in Hairless Mice: Latent Virus in Trigeminal Ganglia After Topical Antiviral Treatment

Inoculation of herpes simplex virus on the forehead and/or snout of hairless mice resulted in a significantly lower mortality rate than inoculation of the skin in the lumbosacral area. Latent herpes simplex virus infections were detected in all forehead-inoculated and in 90% of snout-inoculated mice. Phosphonoacetic acid was highly effective in preventing the development of skin lesions, and no latent infections were detected when phosphonoacetic acid ointment was applied 3 h after infection. Neither adenine arabinoside nor adenine arabinoside monophosphate prevented the establishment of latent infections in the trigeminal ganglia, although they protected the mice from the fatal outcome of the infection. The antibody response after adenine arabinoside or adenine arabinoside monophosphate treatment was similar to that observed in untreated animals, and it was six to eight times higher than in mice treated with phosphonoacetic acid. Mice without evidence of latent infection had, in general, lower serum antibody titers than those with latent infections in the ganglia. An analysis of the pathogenesis of herpes simplex virus infection in mice treated with adenine arabinoside showed that virus penetration into the nerve endings was delayed and that the amount of free virus in ganglionic homogenates was 10 to 100 times less than that for untreated mice.
Large Shareholders and Banks: Who Monitors and How?

Using a sample of Japanese firms in the chemical industry, we show that concentrated shareholding is associated with lower expenditure on activities with scope for managerial private benefits. We interpret this as evidence of a hitherto undocumented form of monitoring by large shareholders. We examine whether such monitoring is also performed by banks and other creditors. The results in the metal product industry are roughly similar, but we find no evidence of this type of monitoring in the Japanese electronics industry, and suggest a number of explanations.
Spatial inequalities in UK GDP per head: The role of private and public services

This paper examines the impact of private and public services in generating spatial inequalities in GDP per head across UK sub-regions. The research utilises new data on public services available from Experimental Government Accounts. After reviewing the theoretical and empirical evidence concerning the spatial impact of services, an econometric model of the determinants of GDP per head is estimated. The results suggest that private services, public services and population structure have a significant influence on spatial inequality. For public services much of the impact is related to the strong concentration of such services in London. It is argued that spatial factors must be given explicit consideration in major public policy decisions if spatial inequalities are to be tackled.
Judgmental Forecasting: Cognitive Reflection and Decision Speed

This research analyzes how individual differences affect performance in judgmental time‐series forecasting. Decision makers with the ability to balance intuitive judgment with cognitive deliberation, as measured by the cognitive reflection test, tend to have lower forecast errors. This relationship holds when controlling for intelligence. Furthermore, forecast errors increase for very fast or very slow decisions. We provide evidence that forecast performance can be improved by manipulating decision speed.
Acute Kidney Injury and Long-term Risk of Cardiovascular Events After Cardiac Surgery: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE To examine the impact of postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) on the long-term risk of myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, and all-cause mortality after elective cardiac surgery. The authors investigated whether time of onset of AKI altered the association between AKI and the adverse events. DESIGN Population-based cohort study in 2006-2011. SETTING Two university hospitals. PARTICIPANTS Adult elective cardiac surgical patients. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS AKI was defined as an increase in baseline creatinine according to the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes criteria. AKI was defined within 30 days of surgery, and also analyzed as early- or late-onset AKI. The authors followed patients from postoperative day 30 until hospitalization with myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, or death. Adjustment for confounding factors was done using propensity scores and standardized-mortality-ratio weights. A total of 1,457 (30.7%) of 4,742 patients developed AKI within 30 days of surgery and 470 (9.9%) patients experienced a composite cardiovascular endpoint. Comparing patients with and without postoperative AKI, weighted hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of 5-year risk of the composite cardiovascular endpoint was 1.41 (95% CI: 1.11-1.80). For each endpoint separately the weighted HR was similarly increased. Ninety-one days to 5-year weighted HR of all-cause mortality was 1.37 (95% CI: 1.05-1.80). The effect of AKI was similar for early- and late-onset AKI. CONCLUSIONS Early- and late-onset AKI within 30 days of elective cardiac surgery was associated with a similarly increased 5-year risk of myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, and increased all-cause mortality.
Social Capital and Health

Social capital is widely considered to influence health. It is usually defined as a list of components such as social networks, social participation, trust and reciprocity. It is trust and reciprocity that are the subjects of this article. The presumed relationship of each with health is rarely explained in social capital studies. Trust is usually treated simplistically, both conceptually and in relation to measurement, while reciprocity is misunderstood, under-theorized and rarely measured. Pathways from trust and reciprocity to better health may be by way of reduced stress. Clarification and valid measures are needed to progress studies of social capital and health.