Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transparency and Disclosure Scores and Their Determinants in the Istanbul Stock Exchange

Recent financial reporting and auditing scandals on both sides of the Atlantic have led to a global realization of the importance of sound corporate governance (CG) practices in alleviating the agency problems in the corporate form of business and for efficient allocation of capital in international markets. Transparency and disclosure (T&D) practices followed by firms are an important component and a leading indicator of CG quality. Transparent and full-disclosure of information is especially vital for Turkey where external capital is necessary to sustain the high growth rate and the biggest agency problem centers on asymmetric information and expropriation by majority shareholders. We collaborate with Standard and Poor's (S&P) and base our survey on their scoring methodology, a customized version of the 98 desirable T&D attributes they used in several other countries, and their classification of the attributes into three categories: ownership structure and investor relations, financial transparency and information disclosure, and board and management structures and processes. We evaluate the T&D practices of the 52 largest and most liquid firms in the Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE), based on their English and local language annual reports and websites. Our rankings provide a first time, objective assessment of the corporate disclosure practices of ISE firms and uncover that they are, at best, moderate and vary with respect to the three sub-categories of T&D. We also consider a simple model that sequentially links agency problems to CG/T&D mechanisms in place which, in turn impact firm-level and economy-wide financial performance. Concentrating on the causal side of the model - the determinants of T&D scores -, we provide out-of-sample evidence that among the commonly used proxies for agency conflicts, firm size, financial performance, market-to-book equity best explain the variation in T&D scores in the ISE. While our results provide considerable support for prior findings in developed markets, they also shed light on how specific agency problems faced by the ISE firms impact their T&D scores.
Feature Level Fusion of Face and Fingerprint Biometrics

The aim of this paper is to study the fusion at feature extraction level for face and fingerprint biometrics. The proposed approach is based on the fusion of the two traits by extracting independent feature pointsets from the two modalities, and making the two pointsets compatible for concatenation. Moreover, to handle the 'problem of curse of dimensionality', the feature pointsets are properly reduced in dimension. Different feature reduction techniques are implemented, prior and after the feature pointsets fusion, and the results are duly recorded. The fused feature pointset for the database and the query face and fingerprint images are matched using techniques based on either the point pattern matching, or the Delaunay triangulation. Comparative experiments are conducted on chimeric and real databases, to assess the actual advantage of the fusion performed at the feature extraction level, in comparison to the matching score level.
Lévy Flight Trajectory-Based Whale Optimization Algorithm for Global Optimization

The whale optimization algorithm (WOA) has been shown to be powerful in searching for an optimal solution. This paper proposes an improvement to the whale optimization algorithm that is based on a Lévy flight trajectory and called the Lévy flight trajectory-based whale optimization algorithm (LWOA). The LWOA makes the WOA faster and more robust and avoids premature convergence. The Lévy flight trajectory is helpful for increasing the diversity of the population against premature convergence and enhancing the capability of jumping out of local optimal optima. This method helps obtaining a better tradeoff between the exploration and exploitation of the WOA. The proposed algorithm is characterized by quick convergence and high precision, and it can effectively get rid of a local optimum. The LWOA is further compared with other well-known nature-inspired algorithms on 23 benchmarks and solving infinite impulse response model identification. The statistical results on the benchmark functions show that the LWOA can significantly outperform others on a majority of the benchmark functions, especially in solving an optimization problem that has high dimensionality. Additionally, the superior identification capability of the proposed algorithm is evident from the results obtained through the simulation study compared with other algorithms. All the results prove the superiority of the LWOA.
Human Cytomegalovirus Infection Dysregulates the Localization and Stability of NICD1 and Jag1 in Neural Progenitor Cells

ABSTRACT Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection of the developing fetus frequently results in major neural developmental damage. In previous studies, HCMV was shown to downregulate neural progenitor/stem cell (NPC) markers and induce abnormal differentiation. As Notch signaling plays a vital role in the maintenance of stem cell status and is a switch that governs NPC differentiation, the effect of HCMV infection on the Notch signaling pathway in NPCs was investigated. HCMV downregulated mRNA levels of Notch1 and its ligand, Jag1, and reduced protein levels and altered the intracellular localization of Jag1 and the intracellular effector form of Notch1, NICD1. These effects required HCMV gene expression and appeared to be mediated through enhanced proteasomal degradation. Transient expression of the viral tegument proteins of pp71 and UL26 reduced NICD1 and Jag1 protein levels endogenously and exogenously. Given the critical role of Notch signaling in NPC growth and differentiation, these findings reveal important mechanisms by which HCMV disturbs neural cell development in vitro. Similar events in vivo may be associated with HCMV-mediated neuropathogenesis during congenital infection in the fetal brain. IMPORTANCE Congenital human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is the leading cause of birth defects that primarily manifest as neurological disabilities. Neural progenitor cells (NPCs), key players in fetal brain development, are the most susceptible cell type for HCMV infection in the fetal brain. Studies have shown that NPCs are fully permissive for HCMV infection, which causes neural cell loss and premature differentiation, thereby perturbing NPC fate. Elucidation of virus-host interactions that govern NPC proliferation and differentiation is critical to understanding neuropathogenesis. The Notch signaling pathway is critical for maintaining stem cell status and functions as a switch for differentiation of NPCs. Our investigation into the impact of HCMV infection on this pathway revealed that HCMV dysregulates Notch signaling by altering expression of the Notch ligand Jag1, Notch1, and its active effector in NPCs. These results suggest a mechanism for the neuropathogenesis induced by HCMV infection that includes altered NPC differentiation and proliferation.
Physical Activity Is Associated with Reduced Implicit Learning but Enhanced Relational Memory and Executive Functioning in Young Adults

Accumulating evidence suggests that physical activity improves explicit memory and executive cognitive functioning at the extreme ends of the lifespan (i.e., in older adults and children). However, it is unknown whether these associations hold for younger adults who are considered to be in their cognitive prime, or for implicit cognitive functions that do not depend on motor sequencing. Here we report the results of a study in which we examine the relationship between objectively measured physical activity and (1) explicit relational memory, (2) executive control, and (3) implicit probabilistic sequence learning in a sample of healthy, college-aged adults. The main finding was that physical activity was positively associated with explicit relational memory and executive control (replicating previous research), but negatively associated with implicit learning, particularly in females. These results raise the intriguing possibility that physical activity upregulates some cognitive processes, but downregulates others. Possible implications of this pattern of results for physical health and health habits are discussed.
Air Conditioning Systems from a 2nd Law Perspective

In this paper exergy analysis is used to assess the performance of the three most common air conditioning plant schemes: all-air, dual-duct and fan-coil systems. The results are presented in terms of flow diagrams to provide a clear picture of the exergy flow across the systems. The most relevant outcomes are that the air cooling and dehumidification is the process most responsible for the exergy loss and that the exergy efficiency of the overall systems is rather low; thus the quest for more appropriate technologies. Solar-assisted air-conditioning is also discussed, outlining the possibilities and the constraints.
Misspecification and Domain Issues in Fitting Garch(1, 1) Models: A Monte Carlo Investigation

In this work we investigate the impact of misspecification of the innovations in fitting Garch(1, 1) models. We show that an incorrect specification of the innovations together with the reduction of the parameter space to the weak stationarity region, can give rise to a spurious IGARCH effect. We address this point through an extensive Monte Carlo simulation study. We also analyze the impact of misspecification on forecasted volatilities, showing that innovations with light tails can lead to a remarkable overestimate of volatilities.
Cardiovascular Risks in Relation to Daidzein Metabolizing Phenotypes among Chinese Postmenopausal Women

Background Studies suggested that the inter-individual differences in metabolizing isoflavone daidzein to equol or O-desmethylangolensin (ODMA) might explain the inconsistency of the soy/isoflavones efficacy on cardiovascular health. Objectives The study aims to evaluate the relationship between equol and ODMA phenotypes and cardiovascular risks with habitual isoflavone consumption in Chinese postmenopausal women. Methods This is a cross-sectional study among 726 prehypertensive postmenopal women who were screened for a randomized controlled trial. 648 women returned a daidzein-challenged urine samples for determination of equol and O-DMA production. 595 attended clinic visits for assessment of cardiovascular risks including body composition, blood pressure (BP), serum lipids, uric acid, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), fasting glucose and free fatty acid (FFA). Results The prevalences of equol and O-DMA producers were 53.2% and 60.9% respectively. Equol producers had higher fat free mass (p = 0.001), lower systolic (p = 0.01) and diastolic (p = 0.01) BP, serum triglyceride (p = 0.023), hs-CRP (p = 0.015) and FFA (p = 0.001) than non-producers. O-DMA producers had lower body fat% (p = 0.032), SBP (p = 0.02), total cholesterol (p = 0.002) than non-producers. The significant differences remained after further adjustment for potential confounders. The habitual soy isoflavones intake had little relation to cardiovascular risk factors in either equol/O-DMA producer phenotypes. Conclusion Equol/O-DMA producers had more favorable cardiovascular risk profiles than non-producers in prehypertensive postmenopausal women.
The No Child Left Behind Act

The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act is potentially the most significant educational initiative to have been enacted in decades. Among the salient elements of this initiative are requirements that all students have qualified teachers and be given the opportunity to attend high-quality schools. The NCLB legislation also requires that states raise academic achievement levels for all students, including those with disabilities. Linked to these components and related issues, this article discusses the major components of the NCLB along with implications and recommendations for educators.
The effects of met expectations on newcomer attitudes and behaviors: a review and meta-analysis.

A review of research on the effects of met expectations for newcomers to organizations located 31 studies of 17,241 people. A meta-analysis found mean (corrected) correlations of . 39 for job satisfaction and organizational commitment, . 29 for intent to leave, . 19 for job survival, and . 11 for job performance. However, all of these mean correlations had significant between-studies variance. By using strict conformity with Porter and Steer's (1973) definition of met expectations, we identified a subset of studies that had nonsignificant between-studies variance for all correlations except job satisfaction. Furthermore, the mean correlations in these subgroups were very similar to those for the entire group. Future research should consider both the direction of the met expectations discrepancy (i.e., over- vs. underfulfillment) and alternative ways to measure organizational reality.
Integration of Rac-dependent Regulation of Cyclin D1 Transcription through a Nuclear Factor-κB-dependent Pathway*

The small GTP-binding protein Rac1, a member of the Ras superfamily, plays a fundamental role in cytoskeleton reorganization, cellular transformation, the induction of DNA synthesis, and superoxide production. Cyclin D1 abundance is rate-limiting in normal G1 phase progression, and the abundance of cyclin D1 is induced by activating mutations of both Ras and Rac1. Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) proteins consist of cytoplasmic hetero- or homodimeric Rel-related proteins complexed to a member of the IκB family of inhibitor proteins. In the current studies, activating mutants of Rac1 (RacLeu-61, RacVal-12) induced cyclin D1 expression and the cyclin D1 promoter in NIH 3T3 cells. Induction of cyclin D1 by Rac1 required both an NF-κB and an ATF-2 binding site. Inhibiting NF-κB by overexpression of an NF-κB trans-dominant inhibitor (nonphosphorylatable IκBα) reduced cyclin D1 promoter activation by the Rac1 mutants, placing NF-κB in a pathway of Rac1 activation of cyclin D1. Specific amino acid mutations in the amino-terminal effector domain of RacLeu-61 had comparable effects on NF-κB transcriptional activity and activation of the cyclin D1 promoter. The NF-κB factors Rel A (p65) and NF-κB1 (p50) induced the cyclin D1 promoter, requiring both the NF-κB binding site and the ATF-2 site. Stable overexpression of RacLeu-61 increased binding of Rel A and NF-κB1 to the cyclin D1 promoter NF-κB site. Activation of Rac1 in NIH 3T3 cells induces both NF-κB binding and activity and enhances expression of cyclin D1 through an NF-κB and ATF-2 site in the proximal promoter, suggesting a critical role for NF-κB in cell cycle regulation through cyclin D1 and Rac1.
On the factorization of consecutive integers

A classical result of Sylvester [21] (see also [16], [17]), generalizing Bertrand’s Postulate, states that the greatest prime divisor of a product of k consecutive integers greater than k exceeds k. More recent work in this vein, well surveyed in [18], has focussed on sharpening Sylvester’s theorem, or upon providing lower bounds for the number of prime divisors of such a product. As noted in [18], a basic technique in these arguments is to make a careful distinction between “small” and “large” primes, and then apply sophisticated results from multiplicative number theory. Along these lines, if we write ( n k ) = U · V, n ≥ 2k,
Online Keyword Spotting with a Character-Level Recurrent Neural Network

In this paper, we propose a context-aware keyword spotting model employing a character-level recurrent neural network (RNN) for spoken term detection in continuous speech. The RNN is end-to-end trained with connectionist temporal classification (CTC) to generate the probabilities of character and word-boundary labels. There is no need for the phonetic transcription, senone modeling, or system dictionary in training and testing. Also, keywords can easily be added and modified by editing the text based keyword list without retraining the RNN. Moreover, the unidirectional RNN processes an infinitely long input audio streams without pre-segmentation and keywords are detected with low-latency before the utterance is finished. Experimental results show that the proposed keyword spotter significantly outperforms the deep neural network (DNN) and hidden Markov model (HMM) based keyword-filler model even with less computations.
Nocardia brasiliensis Induces an Immunosuppressive Microenvironment That Favors Chronic Infection in BALB/c Mice

ABSTRACT Nocardia brasiliensis is an intracellular microorganism and the most common etiologic agent of actinomycetoma in the Americas. Several intracellular pathogens induce an immunosuppressive microenvironment through increases in CD4+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg), thus downregulating other T-cell subpopulations and assuring survival in the host. In this study, we determined whether N. brasiliensis modulates T-lymphocyte responses and their related cytokine profiles in a murine experimental model. We also examined the relationship between N. brasiliensis immunomodulation and pathogenesis and bacterial survival. In early infection, Th17/Tc17 cells were increased at day 3 (P < 0.05) in footpad tissue and spleen. Treg subpopulations peaked at days 7 and 15 (P < 0.01) in the footpad and spleen, respectively. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and interleuki-10 (IL-10) are cytokines known for their immunosuppressive effects. During early and chronic infections, these cytokines were elevated with increased TGF-β1 levels from days 3 to 30 (P < 0.01) and sustained IL-10 expression throughout infection compared to uninfected mice. IL-6 production was increased at day 3 (P < 0.01), whereas gamma interferon (IFN-γ), IL-17A, and IL-23 levels were highest at day 15 postinfection (P < 0.01) when a decrease in the bacterial load (>1 log) was also observed (P < 0.05). After these changes, at 30 to 60 days postinfection, IFN-γ production was decreased, whereas the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines and the bacterial load again increased (P < 0.05). The increment in Treg cells and the related cytokine profile correlated with reduced inflammation at day 15 (P < 0.05) in the footpad. We conclude that N. brasiliensis modulates the immune system to induce an immunosuppressive microenvironment that benefits its survival during the chronic stage of infection.
Reversing the supermarket: A distributed approach for handling elasticity in the cloud

A fundamental capability of cloud computing is elasticity, i.e., the ability to dynamically change the amount of allocated resources. This is typically done by adjusting the number of Virtual Machines (VMs) running a service based on the current demand for that service. For large services, centralized management is impractical and distributed methods are employed. In such settings, no single component has full information on the overall demand and service quality, thus elasticity becomes a real challenge. We address this challenge by proposing a novel elasticity scheme that enables fully distributed management of large cloud services. Our scheme is based on three main components, namely, a task assignment policy, a VM scale-up policy and a VM scale-down policy. The task assignment policy strives to “pack” VMs while maintaining SLA requirements. The VM scale-up policy is based on local activation of new VMs and the VM scale-down policy is based on self-deactivation of VMs that are idle for some duration of time. Through simulations and an implementation we establish that our scheme quickly adapts to changes in job arrival rates and minimizes the number of active VMs so as to reduce the operational costs of the service, while adhering to strict SLA requirements.
Latent Stem and Progenitor Cells in the Hippocampus Are Activated by Neural Excitation

The regulated production of neurons in the hippocampus throughout life underpins important brain functions such as learning and memory. Surprisingly, however, studies have so far failed to identify a resident hippocampal stem cell capable of providing the renewable source of these neurons. Here, we report that depolarizing levels of KCl produce a threefold increase in the number of neurospheres generated from the adult mouse hippocampus. Most interestingly, however, depolarizing levels of KCl led to the emergence of a small subpopulation of precursors (approximately eight per hippocampus) with the capacity to generate very large neurospheres (>250 μm in diameter). Many of these contained cells that displayed the cardinal properties of stem cells: multipotentiality and self-renewal. In contrast, the same conditions led to the opposite effect in the other main neurogenic region of the brain, the subventricular zone, in which neurosphere numbers decreased by ∼40% in response to depolarizing levels of KCl. Most importantly, we also show that the latent hippocampal progenitor population can be activated in vivo in response to prolonged neural activity found in status epilepticus. This work provides the first direct evidence of a latent precursor and stem cell population in the adult hippocampus, which is able to be activated by neural activity. Because the latent population is also demonstrated to reside in the aged animal, defining the precise mechanisms that underlie its activation may provide a means to combat the cognitive deficits associated with a decline in neurogenesis.
Bilateral hearing aids - effects and consequences from a user perspective

The present study assesses the experiences with bilateral amplification in a group of 144 people provided with two hearing aids between May 1994 and July 1997. Two-thirds of the participants preferred to use both prescribed hearing aids. The participants reported that they used their hearing aids frequently. Bilateral amplification was appreciated especially for recognizing speech, for sound localization and for superior sound quality. Situations in which the subjects showed the highest appreciation of two hearing aids were when attending lectures and theatre performances and for communication in noisy background situations. There were statistically significant differences between users of bilateral and unilateral hearing aids regarding judgement of sound quality of hearing aid processed signals and localization ability in favour of bilateral hearing aid amplification. The self-assessed advantages of bilateral amplification demonstrated in this study should motivate a generous prescription strategy of two hearing aids.
Responses of python gastrointestinal regulatory peptides to feeding

In the Burmese python (Python molurus), the rapid up-regulation of gastrointestinal (GI) function and morphology after feeding, and subsequent down-regulation on completing digestion, are expected to be mediated by GI hormones and neuropeptides. Hence, we examined postfeeding changes in plasma and tissue concentrations of 11 GI hormones and neuropeptides in the python. Circulating levels of cholecystokinin (CCK), glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP), glucagon, and neurotensin increase by respective factors of 25-, 6-, 6-, and 3.3-fold within 24 h after feeding. In digesting pythons, the regulatory peptides neurotensin, somatostatin, motilin, and vasoactive intestinal peptide occur largely in the stomach, GIP and glucagon in the pancreas, and CCK and substance P in the small intestine. Tissue concentrations of CCK, GIP, and neurotensin decline with feeding. Tissue distributions and molecular forms (as determined by gel-permeation chromatography) of many python GI peptides are similar or identical to those of their mammalian counterparts. The postfeeding release of GI peptides from tissues, and their concurrent rise in plasma concentrations, suggests that they play a role in regulating python-digestive responses. These large postfeeding responses, and similarities of peptide structure with mammals, make pythons an attractive model for studying GI peptides.