Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Time Varying Liquidity Trading, Private Information and Insider Trading

This paper investigates insider trading before scheduled versus unscheduled corporate announcements to explore how corporate insiders utilize their private information when the amount of liquidity trading is varying over time in a predictable way. Using a comprehensive insider trading database we show that insiders’ propensity to trade before corporate announcements increases in the amount of liquidity trading available. This pattern is more pronounced before unscheduled announcements than before scheduled ones. We also find that insiders buy (sell) more before announcements with positive (negative) announcement returns. This association is much stronger before unscheduled announcements than before scheduled ones. Consistent with the extant literature that finds insider purchases informative, in our sample insider buys are more profitable before unscheduled announcements than before scheduled ones. Taken together, our empirical results provide direct evidence that insiders strategically time their trades around scheduled and unscheduled announcements.
Theorizing a multiple cultures instructional design model for E-learning and E-teaching

This chapter demonstrares the inadequacy of multicultural and internationalization instructional design models as the solution for equitable outcomes in the learning, credentialing, and employment stakes in the 21" century. internationalizing learning and teaching eclipsed multiculturalism as the acclaimed strategy when Western universities entice international non-English-speaking-background students to their campuses or offer degrees to such e-learning students who reside in their own countries. Global and Western businesses establishing niches in overseas countries also use the concept of internationalizing their e-learning materials for the cultural training of staff. In their place, a theorerical model of multiple cultures provides the rationale and strategies for creating and adapting e-learning resources for local, national, and international e-learning contexts.
Modeling cross-scale relationships between climate, hydrology, and individual animals: generating scenarios for stream salamanders

Hybrid modelling provides a unique opportunity to study cross-scale relationships in environmental systems by linking together models of global, regional, landscape, and local-scale processes, yet the approach is rarely applied to address conservation and management questions. Here, we demonstrate how a hybrid modelling approach can be used to assess the effect of cross-scale interactions on the survival of the Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus ochrophaeus) in response to changes in temperature and water availability induced by climate change at the northern limits of its distribution. To do so, we combine regional climate modelling with a landscape-scale integrated surface-groundwater flow model and an individual-based model of stream salamanders. On average, climate scenarios depict a warmer and wetter environment for the 2050 horizon. The increase in average annual temperature and extended hydrological activity time series in the future, combined with a better synchronization with the salamanders’ reproduction period, result in a significant increase in the long-term population viability of the salamanders. This indicates that climate change may not necessarily limit the survivability of small, stream-dwelling animals in headwater basins located in cold and humid regions. This new knowledge suggests that habitat conservation initiatives for amphibians with large latitudinal distributions in Eastern North America should be prioritized at the northern limits of their ranges to facilitate species migration and persistence in the face of climate change. This example demonstrates how hybrid models can serve as powerful tools for informing management and conservation decisions.
Timing and Causality in the Generation of Learned Eyelid Responses

The cerebellum-red nucleus-facial motoneuron (Mn) pathway has been reported as being involved in the proper timing of classically conditioned eyelid responses. This special type of associative learning serves as a model of event timing for studying the role of the cerebellum in dynamic motor control. Here, we have re-analyzed the firing activities of cerebellar posterior interpositus (IP) neurons and orbicularis oculi (OO) Mns in alert behaving cats during classical eyeblink conditioning, using a delay paradigm. The aim was to revisit the hypothesis that the IP neurons (IPns) can be considered a neuronal phase-modulating device supporting OO Mns firing with an emergent timing mechanism and an explicit correlation code during learned eyelid movements. Optimized experimental and computational tools allowed us to determine the different causal relationships (temporal order and correlation code) during and between trials. These intra- and inter-trial timing strategies expanding from sub-second range (millisecond timing) to longer-lasting ranges (interval timing) expanded the functional domain of cerebellar timing beyond motor control. Interestingly, the results supported the above-mentioned hypothesis. The causal inferences were influenced by the precise motor and pre-motor spike timing in the cause-effect interval, and, in addition, the timing of the learned responses depended on cerebellar–Mn network causality. Furthermore, the timing of CRs depended upon the probability of simulated causal conditions in the cause-effect interval and not the mere duration of the inter-stimulus interval. In this work, the close relation between timing and causality was verified. It could thus be concluded that the firing activities of IPns may be related more to the proper performance of ongoing CRs (i.e., the proper timing as a consequence of the pertinent causality) than to their generation and/or initiation.
A Microarray Platform-Independent Classification Tool for Cell of Origin Class Allows Comparative Analysis of Gene Expression in Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma

Cell of origin classification of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) identifies subsets with biological and clinical significance. Despite the established nature of the classification existing studies display variability in classifier implementation, and a comparative analysis across multiple data sets is lacking. Here we describe the validation of a cell of origin classifier for DLBCL, based on balanced voting between 4 machine-learning tools: the DLBCL automatic classifier (DAC). This shows superior survival separation for assigned Activated B-cell (ABC) and Germinal Center B-cell (GCB) DLBCL classes relative to a range of other classifiers. DAC is effective on data derived from multiple microarray platforms and formalin fixed paraffin embedded samples and is parsimonious, using 20 classifier genes. We use DAC to perform a comparative analysis of gene expression in 10 data sets (2030 cases). We generate ranked meta-profiles of genes showing consistent class-association using ≥6 data sets as a cut-off: ABC (414 genes) and GCB (415 genes). The transcription factor ZBTB32 emerges as the most consistent and differentially expressed gene in ABC-DLBCL while other transcription factors such as ARID3A, BATF, and TCF4 are also amongst the 24 genes associated with this class in all datasets. Analysis of enrichment of 12323 gene signatures against meta-profiles and all data sets individually confirms consistent associations with signatures of molecular pathways, chromosomal cytobands, and transcription factor binding sites. We provide DAC as an open access Windows application, and the accompanying meta-analyses as a resource.
Phylogenetic analysis of vitamin B12-related metabolism in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Comparison of genome sequences from clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with phylogenetically-related pathogens Mycobacterium marinum, Mycobacterium kansasii, and Mycobacterium leprae reveals diversity amongst genes associated with vitamin B12-related metabolism. Diversity is generated by gene deletion events, differential acquisition of genes by horizontal transfer, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with predicted impact on protein function and transcriptional regulation. Differences in the B12 synthesis pathway, methionine biosynthesis, fatty acid catabolism, and DNA repair and replication are consistent with adaptations to different environmental niches and pathogenic lifestyles. While there is no evidence of further gene acquisition during expansion of the M. tuberculosis complex, the emergence of other forms of genetic diversity provides insights into continuing host-pathogen co-evolution and has the potential to identify novel targets for disease intervention.
Characteristics of an adult population with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes: the relation of obesity and age of onset.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at 18-44 years of age (early type 2 diabetes) have different metabolic profiles at diagnosis than adults diagnosed at > or =45 years of age (usual type 2 diabetes). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Within a health maintenance organization, we studied characteristics among 2,437 adults newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes between 1996 and 1998 who had measured weight, HbA(1c), blood pressure, and cholesterol within 3 months of diagnosis. We abstracted clinical data from electronic medical records. We compared mean and proportional differences with parametric t tests and chi(2) analyses, respectively. We used multiple logistic regression to identify the factors independently associated with the onset group (early vs. usual type 2 diabetes). RESULTS There was an inverse linear relationship between BMI and age at diagnosis of type 2 diabetes (P < 0.001). On univariate analysis, adults with early type 2 diabetes were more obese (BMI 39 vs. 33 kg/m(2), P < 0.001), were more likely to be female (P = 0.04), had slightly worse glycemic control (HbA(1c) 7.7 vs. 7.5%, P = 0.03), had a higher prevalence of diastolic hypertension (37 vs. 26%, P < 0.001), despite a lower prevalence of systolic hypertension (34 vs. 55%, P < 0.001), and had an equally high rate of abnormal lipids (82 vs. 78%, P = 0.13) than adults with usual type 2 diabetes. BMI, female gender, cholesterol, and diastolic and systolic blood pressure remained independently associated with onset group at multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS Although both onset groups were on average obese, the inverse linear relationship of obesity and age of diabetes onset that we observed suggests that obesity is a continuous risk rather than a threshold risk for diabetes onset. Both onset groups had a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors.
The meaning of sport-related events in the process of becoming and being a fan : a grounded theory study of highly committed sport fans

Newspapers across the country and around the world are filled with reports of events that have occurred within the sporting world. These events range from summaries of wins/losses and statistics of the players in the game to reports of more significant even�s ( e.g., a player's retirement, a team relocation, a league folding, or a player's legal
Gause's exclusion principle revisited: artificial modified species and competition

Gause's principle of competition between two species is studied when one of them is sterile. We study the condition for total extinction in the niche, namely, when the sterile population exterminates the native one by an optimal use of resources. A mathematical Lotka-Volterra nonlinear model of interaction between a native and sterile species is proposed. The condition for total extinction is related to the initial number Mo of sterile individuals released in the niche. In fact, the existence of a critical sterile-population value Mc is conjectured from numerical analysis and an analytical estimation is found. When spatial diffusion (migration) is considered a critical size territory is found and, for small territory, total extinction exist in any case. This work is motivated by the extermination agriculture problem of fruit flies in our region.
Strain Differences in Light-Induced Retinopathy

The purpose of this study was to better understand the role of ocular pigmentation and genetics in light-induced retinal damage. Adult pigmented [Long Evans (LE) and Brown Norway (BN)] and albino [Sprague Dawley (SD) and Lewis (LW)] rats were exposed to a bright cyclic light for 6 consecutive days and where compared with juvenile animals exposed to the same bright light environment from postnatal age 14 to 28. Flash ERGs and retinal histology were performed at predetermined days (D) post-light exposure. At D1, ERGs were similar in all adult groups with no recordable a-waves and residual b-waves. A transient recovery was noticed at D30 in the LW and LE only [b-wave: 18% and 25% of their original amplitude respectively]. Histology revealed that BN retina was the most damaged, while LE retina was best preserved. SD and LW rats were almost as damaged as BN rats. In contrast, the retina of juvenile BN was almost as resistant to the bright light exposure as that of juvenile LE rats. Our results strongly suggest that, although ocular pigmentation and genetic background are important factors in regulating the severity of light-induced retinal damage, the age of the animal at the onset of light exposure appears to be the most important determining factor.
Genetic mapping of natural variation in a shade avoidance response: ELF3 is the candidate gene for a QTL in hypocotyl growth regulation

When plants become shaded by neighbouring plants, they perceive a decrease in the red/far-red (R/FR) ratio of the light environment, which provides an early and unambiguous warning of the presence of competing vegetation. The mechanistic bases of the natural genetic variation in response to shade signals remain largely unknown. This study demonstrates that a wide range of genetic variation for hypocotyl elongation in response to an FR pulse at the end of day (EOD), a light signal that simulates natural shade, exists between Arabidopsis accessions. A quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping analysis was done in the Bayreuth×Shahdara recombinant inbred line population. EODINDEX1 is the most significant QTL identified in response to EOD. The Shahdara alleles at EODINDEX1 caused a reduced response to shade as a consequence of an impaired hypocotyl inhibition under white light, and an accelerated leaf movement rhythm, which correlated positively with the pattern of circadian expression of clock genes such as PRR7 and PRR9. Genetic and quantitative complementation analyses demonstrated that ELF3 is the most likely candidate gene underlying natural variation at EODINDEX1. In conclusion, ELF3 is proposed as a component of the shade avoidance signalling pathway responsible for the phenotypic differences between Arabidopsis populations in relation to adaptation in a changing light environment.
Nutritional status and mortality among HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy in Tanzania.

BACKGROUND Poor nutritional status is associated with immunologic impairment and adverse health outcomes among adults infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). METHODS We investigated body mass index (BMI), middle upper arm circumference (MUAC), and hemoglobin (Hgb) concentrations at initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in 18,271 HIV-infected Tanzanian adults and their changes in the first 3 months of ART, in relation to the subsequent risk of death. RESULTS Lower BMI, MUAC, and Hgb concentrations at ART initiation were strongly associated with a higher risk of death within 3 months. Among patients who survived >3 months after ART initiation, those with a decrease in weight, MUAC, or Hgb concentrations by 3 months had a higher risk of death during the first year. After 1 year, only a decrease in MUAC by 3 months after ART initiation was associated with a higher risk of death. Weight loss was associated with a higher risk of death across all levels of baseline BMI, with the highest risk observed among patients with BMI <17 kg/m(2) (relative risk, 7.9; 95% confidence interval, 4.4-14.4). CONCLUSIONS Poor nutritional status at ART initiation and decreased nutritional status in the first 3 months of ART were strong independent predictors of mortality. The role of nutritional interventions as adjunct therapies to ART merits further investigation.
Bound states and instabilities of vortices.

We examine the spectrum of small perturbations around global and local (gauge) abelian vortices, using simple numerical matrix techniques. The results are of interest for both cosmic strings and for their condensed matter analogues, superfluid and superconducting vortices. We tabulate the instabilities of higher winding number vortices, and find several bound states. These localised oscillations of the order parameter can be thought of as particle states trapped in the core of the string.
Super-Resolution Image Reconstruction Using Nonparametric Bayesian INLA Approximation

Super-resolution (SR) is a technique to enhance the resolution of an image without changing the camera resolution, through using software algorithms. In this context, this paper proposes a fully automatic SR algorithm, using a recent nonparametric Bayesian inference method based on numerical integration, known in the statistical literature as integrated nested Laplace approximation (INLA). By applying such inference method to the SR problem, this paper shows that all the equations needed to implement this technique can be written in closed form. Moreover, the results of several simulations (three of them are here presented) show that the proposed algorithm performs better than other SR algorithms recently proposed. As far as the authors know, this is the first time that the INLA is used in the area of image processing, which is a meaningful contribution of this paper.
Go Forth and Multiply: Revisiting Religion and Fertility in the United States, 1984-2008

Many studies on the fertility differential by religion have considered both Catholics and Protestants to be equally homogenous groups. Contrary to these studies, we contend that Protestant fertility must be studied in the context of heterogeneous groups. Specifically, conservative Protestantism, with its beliefs about artificial birth control mirroring Catholic teaching, should be examined separately from other Protestant traditions. Using data from the General Social Survey we find that conservative Protestants and Catholics had about the same level of fertility, while mainline Protestants have a fertility rate that is significantly lower than that of Catholics. We also examine the changes in these differences over time.
Examination of the Determinants of Smart Meter Adoption: An User Perspective

Given rising electricity consumption, coupled with finite resources, ICT-enabled electrical networks such as smart grids are increasingly being deployed by energy companies. One part of smart grids is smart meter technology (SMT), which are digital electrical meters, having the potential to increase energy efficiency in both residential and industrial sectors. However, a challenge to SMT-implementation in residential settings is its adoption (and continued usage) by consumers. Despite these challenges, little academic research has been conducted on this topic. This study attempts to fill that void and is, to the knowledge of the authors, the first study to empirically investigate this topic from a user perspective. Specifically, we developed a model surrounding consumers’ intention to continue using SMT, by drawing on theories of adoption and motivational psychology, and testing it using a sample (n = 933) of SMT-users of a large super-regional energy supplier. Results provide support for our hypotheses.
Discriminative clustering for image co-segmentation

Purely bottom-up, unsupervised segmentation of a single image into foreground and background regions remains a challenging task for computer vision. Co-segmentation is the problem of simultaneously dividing multiple images into regions (segments) corresponding to different object classes. In this paper, we combine existing tools for bottom-up image segmentation such as normalized cuts, with kernel methods commonly used in object recognition. These two sets of techniques are used within a discriminative clustering framework: the goal is to assign foreground/background labels jointly to all images, so that a supervised classifier trained with these labels leads to maximal separation of the two classes. In practice, we obtain a combinatorial optimization problem which is relaxed to a continuous convex optimization problem, that can itself be solved efficiently for up to dozens of images. We illustrate the proposed method on images with very similar foreground objects, as well as on more challenging problems with objects with higher intra-class variations.
Quality of Novel Healthy Processed Cheese Analogue Enhanced with Marine Microalgae Chlorella vulgaris Biomass

Cheese analogue (Ch A) is processed cheese-like product, a nutritious food, can be healthy and attractive when redesigned to be prepared with the addition of a natural ingredient, being Chlorella vulgaris. This microalga is recognized as a rich source of protein, fatty acids, fiber and ash. C. vulgaris also represents a valuable source of essential vitamins and minerals. Chlorella has health benefits, as assisting disorders such as gastric ulcers, wounds, constipation, anemia, hypertension, have immune-modulating and anticancer properties and is a promising ingredient in the food industries. Cheese analogue (Ch A) treatments were enriched with C. vulgaris (1, 2 and 3%) and evaluated for chemical, physical and sensory properties, within three months of cold storage. Chlorella biomass cheeses were richer in the protein, carbohydrates and fiber contents than control samples. On the other hand, addition of Chlorella biomass to the cheese gave products more firmness and gives a stronger network and leads to lower oil separation and meltability values than control. The sensory evaluation indicated that addition of 2% C.vulgaris in Ch A did not have any effect on the overall acceptability of Ch A and in the same time introduced a new healthy alternative Ch A for a healthier lifestyle.
A STUDY OF WEST VIRGINIA ELEMENTARY SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS' ROLES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND PRACTICES WITHIN A MULTI-TIERED INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEM: IMPLICATIONS FOR POLICY AND PRACTICE

xi CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION AND RATIONALE 1 Statement of the Problem 3 Research Questions 5 Operational Definitions 5 Significance 7 Delimitations of the Study 9 Organization of the Study 9 CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE 10 Introduction 10 Understanding a Context for Change: Special Education in Retrospect 12 Learning Disabilities: A Historical Consideration of Construct and Identification 27 Questioning the Role of IQ in Diagnosing LD 36 Emergence of the New Paradigm: Response to Intervention 39 Features of a Response to Intervention Service Delivery Model 41 The Three-Tier Instructional Model 42 Progress Monitoring: Using Curriculum-based Measurement to Inform Instruction 59 Issues and Concerns with RTI as an LD Identification Approach 61 Special Educators’ Roles and Responsibilities within the RTI Framework 63 Basis for Effective Intervention Practices 68