Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Causal Impact of Media in Financial Markets

It is challenging to disentangle the causal impact of media reporting from the impact of the events being reported. We solve this problem by comparing the behaviors of investors with access to different media coverage of the same information event. We use zip codes to identify 19 mutually exclusive trading regions, corresponding to 19 large U.S. cities and local newspapers (e.g., the Houston Chronicle). For all earnings announcements of S&P 500 Index firms, we find that local media coverage strongly predicts local trading, after controlling for characteristics of the earnings surprise, firm, local investors, and reporting newspaper(s). Moreover, the local trading-local coverage effect: 1) depends precisely on the specific timing of local reporting (e.g., one day after the earnings announcement, two days afterward, etc.) and 2) disappears entirely during extreme weather events, which leaves media content unchanged, but disrupts transmission to investors.
Distributed Augmented Reality for Collaborative Design Applications

This paper presents a system for constructing collaborative design applications based on distributed augmented reality. Augmented reality interfaces are a natural method for presenting computer‐based design by merging graphics with a view of the real world. Distribution enables users at remote sites to collaborate on design tasks. The users interactively control their local view, try out design options, and communicate design proposals. They share virtual graphical objects that substitute for real objects which are not yet physically created or are not yet placed into the real design environment.
Epigallocatechin, a Green Tea Polyphenol, Attenuates Myocardial Ischemia Reperfusion Injury in Rats

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the most prominent catechin in green tea. EGCG has been shown to modulate numerous molecular targets in the setting of inflammation and cancer. These molecular targets have also been demonstrated to be important participants in reperfusion injury, hence this study examines the effects of EGCG in myocardial reperfusion injury. Male Wistar rats were subjected to myocardial ischemia (30 min) and reperfusion (up to 2 h). Rats were treated with EGCG (10 mg/kg intravenously) or with vehicle at the end of the ischemia period followed by a continuous infusion (EGCG 10 mg/kg/h) during the reperfusion period. In vehicle-treated rats, extensive myocardial injury was associated with tissue neutrophil infiltration as evaluated by myeloperoxidase activity, and elevated levels of plasma creatine phosphokinase. Vehicle-treated rats also demonstrated increased plasma levels of interleukin-6. These events were associated with cytosol degradation of inhibitor κB-α, activation of IκB kinase, phosphorylation of c-Jun, and subsequent activation of nuclear factor-κB and activator protein-1 in the infarcted heart. In vivo treatment with EGCG reduced myocardial damage and myeloperoxidase activity. Plasma IL-6 and creatine phosphokinase levels were decreased after EGCG administration. This beneficial effect of EGCG was associated with reduction of nuclear factor-κB and activator protein-1 DNA binding. The results of this study suggest that EGCG is beneficial for the treatment of reperfusion-induced myocardial damage by inhibition of the NF-κB and AP-1 pathway.
Is Usage a Missing Link in Explaining the Perceived Learning Outcome of Technology-Mediated Learning?

Information systems (IS) researchers have demonstrated that usage is a key variable in explaining the performance impact of information technology. However, existing technology-mediated learning (TML) studies have not examined the influence of usage on learning outcome and the factors that determine the usage of TML. To address this research gap, our study presents and tests a TML model by drawing insights from two research streams. First, following the IS literature, we incorporate the impact of technology usage on individual performance. Second, building on the social cognitive theory, we study the influences of self-efficacy beliefs (system and subject domain) and affective responses (affect and anxiety) on technology usage. Based on 503 matched responses collected using two-stage questionnaire surveys, our analyses confirm the significance of usage in mediating the effects of system self-efficacy and anxiety on perceived learning outcome, but not in mediating the effects of affect and subject-domain self-efficacy. We find strong support for the influences of self-efficacy beliefs on affective responses. Self-efficacy beliefs of the users are also observed to change over time and perceived learning outcome plays a significant role in explaining this change. Our research enhances the existing TML theory by producing useful insights regarding the influence of social cognitive factors of learners on the usage of TML and how usage mediates the influence of these variables on perceived learning outcome.
Functional Specialization within Rostral Prefrontal Cortex (Area 10): A Meta-analysis

One of the least well understood regions of the human brain is rostral prefrontal cortex, approximating Brodmann's area 10. Here, we investigate the possibility that there are functional subdivisions within this region by conducting a meta-analysis of 104 functional neuroimaging studies (using positron emission tomography/functional magnetic resonance imaging). Studies involving working memory and episodic memory retrieval were disproportionately associated with lateral activations, whereas studies involving mentalizing (i.e., attending to one's own emotions and mental states or those of other agents) were disproportionately associated with medial activations. Functional variation was also observed along a rostral-caudal axis, with studies involving mentalizing yielding relatively caudal activations and studies involving multiple-task coordination yielding relatively rostral activations. A classification algorithm was trained to predict the task, given the coordinates of each activation peak. Performance was well above chance levels (74% for the three most common tasks; 45% across all eight tasks investigated) and generalized to data not included in the training set. These results point to considerable functional segregation within rostral prefrontal cortex.
Altered white matter microstructure underlies listening difficulties in children suspected of auditory processing disorders: a DTI study

The purpose of the present study was to identify biomarkers of listening difficulties by investigating white matter microstructure in children suspected of auditory processing disorder (APD) using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Behavioral studies have suggested that impaired cognitive and/or attention abilities rather than a pure sensory processing deficit underlie listening difficulties and auditory processing disorder (APD) in children. However, the neural signature of listening difficulties has not been investigated.
Immunofluorescence Assay for Serologic Diagnosis of SARS

We evaluated a virus-infected cell-based indirect immunofluorescence assay for detecting anti–severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibody. All confirmed SARS cases demonstrated seroconversion or fourfold rise in IgG antibody titer; no control was positive. Sensitivity and specificity of this assay were both 100%. Immunofluorescence assay can ascertain the status of SARS-CoV infection.
The effects of a 10-week combined maximal and explosive strength and high-intesity endurance training period on neuromuscular performance and 3K time-trial in males and females

Forssell, Jaakko 2015. The effects of a 10-week combined maximal and explosive strength and high-intensity endurance training period on neuromuscular performance and 3K time-trial in males and females. Department of Biology of Physical Activity. University of Jyväskylä. Master’s Thesis in Science of Sports Coaching and Fitness Testing. 84 pp. Combined strength and endurance training has been noted to produce significant improvements in strength and endurance performances in both men and women. However, there seems to be moderate inhibitory effect regarding strength adaptations, especially considering power production. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of a 10-week combined maximal and explosive strength and high-intensity endurance training period on neuromuscular performance and 3K time-trial in males and females. A total of 19 healthy recreationally trained subjects (Males: M= 10, Females: F= 9) completed a 10-week combined strength and endurance training period. All subjects trained twice a week strength and twice a week endurance. Strength training consisted of maximal resistance training (~85%1RM) and plyometric exercises for the lower extremities. Endurance training sessions were 4x4min and 3x3x100m running, which both were performed once a week. Neuromuscular measurements and 3K time-trial were conducted before (PRE) and after (POST) the 10-week training period. Neuromuscular measurements consisted of a countermovement jump (CMJ), a maximal isometric force in bilateral leg press, a maximal isometric force in unilateral knee extension and flexion, and 1RM in dynamic leg press. Muscle activation (iEMG) from vastus lateralis (VL) was collected from isometric knee extension. Both males and females improved significantly CMJ from PRE to POST (M: 10.0±8.0%, p<0.01; F: 11.3±5.4%, p<0.001). Both groups also improved significantly isometric leg press (M: 11.9±11.3%, p<0.05; F: 5.8±6.0%, p<0.05). Only males improved significantly isometric knee extension force (11.2±6.0%, p<0.001), and males improved their iEMG in VL during knee extension as well (29.1±25.6%, p<0.05). Males improved significantly isometric knee flexion force (9.0±8.6%, p<0.01). Both groups improved significantly dynamic 1RM leg press (M: 8.7±4.7%, p<0.001; F: 6.6±3.9%, p<0.01). Both groups improved significantly 3K time-trial performance (M: -2.2±3.1%, p<0.05; F: -2.0±1.9%, p<0.05). There were no significant differences in improvements between males and females in any measurements at any time point. In conclusion, both males and females improved their strength and power and endurance performances. However, neuromuscular adaptations seemed to be more systematic in males. These findings suggest that combined maximal and explosive strength and high-intensity endurance training seems to be efficient training modality even for a recreationally active people.
Are guilt appeals a panacea in green advertising?

This research examines guilt appeals in green advertising by clarifying moderating roles of issue proximity and environmental consciousness. Advantageous effects of guilt appeals are produced in two contexts: promoting a highly proximal issue to consumers with weak environmental consciousness or promoting a less proximal issue to those with strong environmental consciousness. Guilt appeals are no more effective than non-guilt appeals when a low-proximity issue is presented to individuals with weak environmental consciousness. Guilt appeals backfire when promoting a high-proximity issue to highly conscious individuals. The implications of these findings are discussed, as are the limitations and directions for future research.
Effects of a hybrid micro/nanorod topography-modified titanium implant on adhesion and osteogenic differentiation in rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

Background and methods Various methods have been used to modify titanium implant surfaces with the aim of achieving better osseointegration. In this study, we fabricated a clustered nanorod structure on an acid-etched, microstructured titanium plate surface using hydrogen peroxide. We also evaluated biofunctionalization of the hybrid micro/nanorod topography on rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Scanning electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction were used to investigate the surface topography and phase composition of the modified titanium plate. Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were cultured and seeded on the plate. The adhesion ability of the cells was then assayed by cell counting at one, 4, and 24 hours after cell seeding, and expression of adhesion-related protein integrin β1 was detected by immunofluorescence. In addition, a polymerase chain reaction assay, alkaline phosphatase and Alizarin Red S staining assays, and osteopontin and osteocalcin immunofluorescence analyses were used to evaluate the osteogenic differentiation behavior of the cells. Results The hybrid micro/nanoscale texture formed on the titanium surface enhanced the initial adhesion activity of the rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Importantly, the hierarchical structure promoted osteogenic differentiation of these cells. Conclusion This study suggests that a hybrid micro/nanorod topography on a titanium surface fabricated by treatment with hydrogen peroxide followed by acid etching might facilitate osseointegration of a titanium implant in vivo.
Hyperglycemia-Induced Reactive Oxygen Species Increase Expression of the Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products (RAGE) and RAGE Ligands

OBJECTIVE RAGE interacts with the endogenous ligands S100 calgranulins and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) to induce inflammation. Since hyperglycemia-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) activate many pathways of diabetic tissue damage, the effect of these ROS on RAGE and RAGE ligand expression was evaluated. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Expression of RAGE, S100A8, S100A12, and HMGB1 was evaluated in human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) incubated in normal glucose, high glucose, and high glucose after overexpression of either uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), or glyoxalase 1 (GLO1). Expression was also evaluated in normal glucose after knockdown of GLO1. Expression was next evaluated in high glucose after knockdown of nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65 (RAGE) and after knockdown of activated protein-1 (AP-1) (S100A8, S100A12, and HMGB1), and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) was performed ± GLO1 overexpression for NFκB p65 (RAGE promoter) and AP-1 (S100A8, S100A12, and HMGB1 promoters). Finally, endothelial cells from nondiabetic mice, STZ diabetic mice, and STZ diabetic mice treated with the superoxide dismutase mimetic Mn(III)tetrakis(4-benzoic acid)porphyrin chloride (MnTBAP) were evaluated. RESULTS High glucose increased RAGE, S100A8, S100A12, and HMGB1 expression, which was normalized by overexpression of UCP1, SOD2, or GLO1. GLO1 knockdown mimicked the effect of high glucose, and in high glucose, overexpression of GLO1 normalized increased binding of NFκB p65 and AP-1. Diabetes increased RAGE, S100A8, and HMGB1 expression, and MnTBAP treatment normalized this. CONCLUSIONS These results show that hyperglycemia-induced ROS production increases expression of RAGE and RAGE ligands. This effect is mediated by ROS-induced methylglyoxal, the major substrate of glyoxalase 1.
Intersection Types as Logical Formulae

The aim of this paper is to investigate, in the Curry-Howard isomorphism approach, a logical characterization for the intersection-type discipline First a novel formulation of the intersection type inference for combinatory logic is presented, such that it is equivalent to the original version of the system, while the intersection operator is no longer dealt with as a proof-theoretical connective Then a Hilbert-style axiomatization is defined and proved to totally parallel lntersecOon-denvability, in such a way that inhabited intersection-types are all and only the provable formulae in the logic system
A review of hybrid evolutionary multiple criteria decision making methods

For real-world problems, the task of decision-makers is to identify a solution that can satisfy a set of performance criteria, which are often in conflict with each other. Multi-objective evolutionary algorithms tend to focus on obtaining a family of solutions that represent the trade-offs between the criteria; however ultimately a single solution must be selected. This need has driven a requirement to incorporate decision-maker preference models into such algorithms - a technique that is very common in the wider field of multiple criteria decision making. This paper reviews techniques which have combined evolutionary multi-objective optimization and multiple criteria decision making. Three classes of hybrid techniques are presented: a posteriori, a priori, and interactive, including methods used to model the decision-makers preferences and example algorithms for each category. To encourage future research directions, a commentary on the remaining issues within this research area is also provided.
Spanning Tree Approximations for Conditional Random Fields

In this work we show that one can train Conditional Random Fields of intractable graphs eectively and eciently by considering a mixture of random spanning trees of the underlying graphical model. Furthermore, we show how a maximum-likelihood estimator of such a training objective can subsequently be used for prediction on the full graph. We present experimental results which improve on the state-of-the-art. Additionally, the training objective is less sensitive to the regularization than pseudo-likelihood based training approaches. We perform the experimental validation on two classes of data sets where structure is important: image denoising and multilabel classication.
Enhanced discrimination in autism

Children with autism are superior to typically developing children at visual search tasks (O'Riordan, Plaisted, Driver, & Baron-Cohen, in press; Plaisted, O'Riordan, & Baron-Cohen, l998b). This study investigates the reasons for this phenomenon. The performance of children with autism and of typically developing children was compared on a series of visual search tasks to investigate two related problems. The first issue was whether the critical determinant of search rate in children is the discriminability of the display items, as it is in normal adults. The second question investigated was whether the superior performance of individuals with autism on visual search tasks is due to an enhanced ability to discriminate between display items. The results demonstrated that discriminability is the rate-determining factor for children with and without autism, replicating earlier findings with normal adults, and that children with autism have an enhanced ability to discriminate between display items. Thus, it seems that an enhanced ability to discriminate between display items underlies superior visual search in autism.
Physiological Causes and Consequences of Social Status in Salmonid Fish1

Abstract Social interactions in small groups of juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) lead to the formation of dominance hierarchies. Dominant fish hold better positions in the environment, gain a larger share of the available food and exhibit aggression towards fish lower in the hierarchy. By contrast, subordinate fish exhibit behavioural inhibition, including reduced activity and feeding. The behavioural characteristics associated with social status are likely the result of changes in brain monoamines resulting from social interactions. Whereas substantial physiological benefits, including higher growth rates and condition factor, are experienced by dominant trout, low social status appears to be a chronic stress, as indicated by sustained elevation of circulating cortisol concentrations in subordinate fish. High cortisol levels, in turn, may be responsible for many of the deleterious physiological consequences of low social status, including lower growth rates and condition factor, immunosuppression and increased mortality. Circulating cortisol levels may also be a factor in determining the outcome of social interactions in pairs of rainbow trout, and hence in determining social status. Rainbow trout treated with cortisol were significantly more likely to become subordinate in paired encounters with smaller untreated conspecifics.
Activin A promotes multiple myeloma-induced osteolysis and is a promising target for myeloma bone disease

Understanding the pathogenesis of cancer-related bone disease is crucial to the discovery of new therapies. Here we identify activin A, a TGF-β family member, as a therapeutically amenable target exploited by multiple myeloma (MM) to alter its microenvironmental niche favoring osteolysis. Increased bone marrow plasma activin A levels were found in MM patients with osteolytic disease. MM cell engagement of marrow stromal cells enhanced activin A secretion via adhesion-mediated JNK activation. Activin A, in turn, inhibited osteoblast differentiation via SMAD2-dependent distal-less homeobox–5 down-regulation. Targeting activin A by a soluble decoy receptor reversed osteoblast inhibition, ameliorated MM bone disease, and inhibited tumor growth in an in vivo humanized MM model, setting the stage for testing in human clinical trials.
Probabilistic Optimal Tree Hopping for RFID Identification

Radio frequency identification (RFID) systems are widely used in various applications such as supply chain management, inventory control, and object tracking. Identifying RFID tags in a given tag population is the most fundamental operation in RFID systems. While the Tree Walking (TW) protocol has become the industrial standard for identifying RFID tags, little is known about the mathematical nature of this protocol, and only some ad hoc heuristics exist for optimizing it. In this paper, first we analytically model the TW protocol, and then using that model, propose the Tree Hopping (TH) protocol that optimizes TW both theoretically and practically. The key novelty of TH is to formulate tag identification as an optimization problem and find the optimal solution that ensures the minimal average number of queries or identification time as per the requirement. With this solid theoretical underpinning, for different tag population sizes ranging from 100 to 100 K tags, TH significantly outperforms the best prior tag identification protocols on the metrics of the total number of queries per tag, the total identification time per tag, and the average number of responses per tag by an average of 40%, 59%, and 67%, respectively, when tag IDs are nonuniformly distributed in the ID space, and of 50%, 10%, and 30%, respectively, when tag IDs are uniformly distributed.
Calibration and use of the polar organic chemical integrative sampler—a critical review

The implementation of strict environmental quality standards for polar organic priority pollutants poses a challenge for monitoring programs. The polar organic chemical integrative sampler (POCIS) may help to address the challenge of measuring low and fluctuating trace concentrations of such organic contaminants, offering significant advantages over traditional sampling. In the present review, the authors evaluate POCIS calibration methods and factors affecting sampling rates together with reported environmental applications. Over 300 compounds have been shown to accumulate in POCIS, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, hormones, and industrial chemicals. Polar organic chemical integrative sampler extracts have been used for both chemical and biological analyses. Several different calibration methods have been described, which makes it difficult to directly compare sampling rates. In addition, despite the fact that some attempts to correlate sampling rates with the properties of target compounds such as log KOW have been met with varying success, an overall model that can predict uptake is lacking. Furthermore, temperature, water flow rates, salinity, pH, and fouling have all been shown to affect uptake; however, there is currently no robust method available for adjusting for these differences. Overall, POCIS has been applied to a wide range of sampling environments and scenarios and has been proven to be a useful screening tool. However, based on the existing literature, a more mechanistic approach is required to increase understanding and thus improve the quantitative nature of the measurements. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012; 31: 2724–2738. © 2012 SETAC