Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Legal Protection, Corporate Governance and Information Asymmetry in Emerging Financial Markets

This paper, using observations from firms in emerging financial markets (EFM), examines the association between proxies for legal protection, law enforcement and corporate governance on country level scores for information asymmetry (IA). In addition, the paper also examines the association between differences in financial development of EFM and IA. IA is measured using a method developed by Jacobson and Aaker (1993) who argued that stock market participants, being forward-looking, not only react to information about business performance but also attempt to anticipate outcomes that will only later be reflected in accounting information. The measure applied seeks to assess the degree to which investors have information that allows them to anticipate future accounting results versus the extent that they react to current-term accounting results. Regression results show that firms in countries with strong legal protection/law enforcement and corporate governance are associated with lower IA. Firms in countries with more developed markets are also associated with lower IA levels.
An efficient ROI Encoding Based on LSK and fractal image compression

Telemedicine is one of the emerging fields in medicine which is characterized by transmitting medical data and images between different users. The medical images which are transmitted over the internet require huge bandwidth. Even images of single patient are found to be very huge in size due to resolution factor and number of images per diagnosis. So, there is an immense need for efficient compression techniques that can be used to compress these medical images. In medical images, only some of the regions are considered to be more important than the others (e.g., tumor in brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)). This paper reviews the application of ROI coding in the field of telemedicine. The image coding is done using Wavelet Transform (WT) based on Listless Speck (LSK). The Region of Interest (ROI) is obtained from user interaction and coded with the user given resolution to get high Compression Ratio (CR). In our proposed method, instead of decompressing all the blocks, we decompress only the similar blocks based on the index valued stored on the stack. Thus, our proposed method efficiently compresses the medical image. The performance measure can be analyzed by using Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR). The execution time of the proposed method will be reduced when compare to the other existing methods. The experimental result shows that the application of ROI coding using LSK brings about high compression rate and quality ROI.
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Aerosol Characterization in Northern Africa, Northeastern Atlantic, Mediterranean Basin and Middle East from Direct-sun Aeronet Observations

We provide an atmospheric aerosol characterization for North Africa, Northeastern Atlantic, Mediterranean and Middle East based on the analysis of quality-assured direct-sun observations of 39 stations of the AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) which include at least an annual cycle within the 1994–2007 period. We extensively test and apply the recently introduced graphical method of Gobbi and co-authors to track and discriminate different aerosol types and quantify the contribution of mineral dust. The method relies on the combined analysis of theÅngström exponent (α) and its spectral curvature δα. Plotting data in these coordinates allows to infer aerosol fine mode radius (R f) and fractional contribution (η) to total Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) and separate AOD growth due to fine-mode aerosol humidi-fication and/or coagulation from AOD growth due to the increase in coarse particles or cloud contamination. Our results confirm the robustness of this graphical method. Large mineral dust is found to be the most important constituent in Northern Africa and Middle East. Under specific meteorological conditions, its transport to Southern Europe is observed from spring to autumn and decreasing with latitude. We observe " pure Saharan dust " conditions to show AOD>0.7 (ranging up to 5), α<0.3 and δα<0 corresponding to η<40% and R f ∼0.13 µm. Small pollution particles are abundant in sites close to urban and industrial areas of Continental and Eastern Europe and Middle East, as well as, important contributions of biomass burning are observed in the sub-Sahel region in winter. These small aerosols are associated to AOD<1, α>1.5 and δα∼−0.2 corresponding to η>70% and R f ∼0.13 µm. Here, dust mixed with fine pollution aerosols shifts the observations to the region α<0.75, in which the fine mode contribution is less than 40%.
From a Firm-Based to a Community-Based Model of Knowledge Creation: The Case of the Linux Kernel Development

We propose a new model of knowledge creation in purposeful, loosely coordinated, distributed systems, as an alternative to a firm-based one. Specifically, using the case of the Linux kernel development project, we build a model of community-based, evolutionary knowledge creation to study how thousands of talented volunteers, dispersed across organizational and geographical boundaries, collaborate via the Internet to produce a knowledge-intensive, innovative product of high quality. By comparing and contrasting the Linux model with the traditional/commercial model of software development and firmbased knowledge creation efforts, we show how the proposed model of knowledge creation expands beyond the boundary of the firm. Our model suggests that the product development process can be effectively organized as an evolutionary process of learning driven by criticism and error correction. We conclude by offering some theoretical implications of our community-based model of knowledge creation for the literature of organizational learning, community life, and the uses of knowledge in society.
A study of cooperative learning group dynamics in an inquiry-based physics course

We consider the nature of group dynamics in small cooperative learning groups in the inquiry-based physics course Physics 201: Physics by Inquiry. Our study was motivated by observed changes in the behavior of some students as they participated in various groups during the Spring 1998 semester. In order to understand the origin of these behavior changes, approximately half o f the class was interviewed concerning their group experiences. The results o f these interviews suggested that students could be categorized into five different group learning styles, and that certain combinations of learning styles led to positive’ productive group dynamics, while other combinations led to internal group friction: The strongest predictor of group interaction appeared to stem from a student’s previous experience with the course subject matter; students with some background in . physics had extreme difficulty working with novice learners. A less strong but noticeable predictor related to the students’ self-confidence as learners. Students without previous physics knowledge could be classified into four levels of confidence, and it was found that extremely confident students had difficult working with extremely insecure students. We formed hypotheses for organizing cooperative learning groups with successful group dynamics based on this categorization scheme, and applied them to two sections of Physics by Inquiry in the Fall 1998 semester. Students from this semester were then also interviewed. We found that, when our grouping strategies were implemented, group . success rates increased from.36% in the Spring 1998 semester to 75% in the Fall 1998 semester. However, data from the Fall 1998 semester revealed several secondary problems. Non-traditional students were observed to conflict with traditional students in certain circumstances. When students with previous physics experience were grouped together, problems with the curriculum became apparent. Finally, assigning multiple groups throughout the semester was found to have negative effects on student interactions. Our original hypotheses were modified to help rectify these problems. We conclude that our cooperative grouping strategies are extremely effective for creating groups with positive and productive dynamics. We compare them to grouping techniques used in other studies, and we discuss the potential for wider implementation.
Modeling Aggregate Investment: A Fundamentalist Approach

This paper applies some lessons from recent estimation of investment models with firm-level data to the aggregate data with an eye to rehabilitating convex costs of adjusting the capital stock. In recent firm-level work, the response of investment to output and other "fundamental" variables is interpreted in terms of the traditional convex-adjustment-cost model, implying annual capital-stock adjustment speeds on the order of 15 to 35 percent. In aggregate data, I find that this "fundamentalist" model can account for the reduced-form effect of output on investment and the estimated capital-stock adjustment speed is similar to those from firm-level studies B--around 25 percent per year. To account for the slower adjustment to changes in the cost of capital, I consider a model in which the capital-intensity of production is also costly to adjust. I find that this model can account for the reduced-form effects of both output and the cost of capital on investment.
Age Dependence of Risk Factors for Stroke and Death in Young Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Nationwide Study

Background and Purpose— The risk of stroke and death in patients with atrial fibrillation is strongly associated with age and concomitant comorbidities. The aim of this study was to examine the age dependence of risk factors for stroke and mortality in young patients with atrial fibrillation. Methods— This study is a population-based cohort study of 30- to 65-year-old patients with atrial fibrillation and diagnosed during 2000 to 2011, identified by record linkage between nationwide Danish registries. Cox regression models were used to estimate the risk of stroke and mortality according to risk factors within age groups: 30 to 50, 50 to 65, and 65 to 75 years. Results— We identified 73 799 nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients, of which 37 782 (51.2%) were <65 years old (mean age 62.8). A higher modified cardiac failure or dysfunction, hypertension, age 75 (doubled), diabetes, stroke (doubled), vascular disease, age 65–74 and sex category (female) score (CHA2DS2-VASc score) was associated with decreased survival probability in all age groups. The overall incidence of stroke per year for 1 year (5 years) follow-up was 1.2% (0.6%), 3.5% (1.6%), and 5.6% (2.8%), respectively, for the age groups of 30 to 50, 50 to 65, and 65 to 75. Overall, risk factors such as previous stroke, heart failure, vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension remained independent predictors of stroke and death in patients <65 years old with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Conclusions— The CHA2DS2-VASc score is an applicable tool for all age groups and in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients <65 years old, the same risk factors apply.
Working Paper No . 2011 / 51 The Long-Run Impact of Foreign Aid in 36 African Countries Insights from Multivariate Time Series Analysis

Studies of aid effectiveness abound in the literature, often with opposing conclusions. Since most time-series studies use data from the exact same publicly available data bases, our claim here is that such differences in results must be due to the use of different econometric models and methods. To investigate this we perform a comprehensive study of the long-run effect of foreign aid (ODA) on a set of key macroeconomic variables in 36 sub-Saharan African countries from mid-1960s to 2007. We use a well-specified (Cointegrated) VAR (CVAR) model as our statistical benchmark. It represents a much-needed general-to-specific approach which can provide broad confidence intervals within which empirically relevant claims should fall. Based on stringent statistical testing, our results provide broad support for a positive . /
An Industry Case Study of the Impacts of Electronic Commerce on Car Dealerships in Western Australia

The study reported in this paper was undertaken in an attempt to identify and understand the impacts of electronic commerce in the car retail industry in Western Australia. Much of the existing literature in electronic commerce puts forward theoretical models and speculative argumentation in an attempt to describe and understand the electronic commerce phenomenon. In contradistinction to this type of approach, this paper reports on an empirical investigation of the perspectives of senior executives (CEOs and/or owners) as to their actual experiences of and beliefs about the impacts of electronic commerce in the retail car industry in Western Australia. These viewpoints and perspectives were elicited during face-to-face, semi-structured interviews lasting between 1.5 and 3 hours. Generally speaking, the executives interviewed are experiencing great uncertainty with respect to electronic commerce and its effect on their business: they are uncertain about its likely impacts long term (although not much is currently happening), they are uncertain about the ultimate magnitude of electronic commerce in their industry, they are uncertain about the costs and benefits of electronic commerce investments, but they are unwilling not to be involved at all. There appear to be few articulated and carefully thought-out business strategies driving their electronic commerce activities at this stage, nor is there much evidence of internal business processes being reengineered to accommodate the requirements of an electronic commerce presence. In addition, a number of drivers and inhibitors of electronic commerce from the perspective of these CEOs in the car retail industry are also identified.
Securing U-Healthcare Sensor Networks using Public Key Based Scheme

Recent emergence of electronic culture uplifts healthcare facilities to a new era with the aid of wireless sensor network (WSN) technology. Due to the sensitiveness of medical data, austere privacy and security are inevitable for all parts of healthcare systems. However, the constantly evolving nature and constrained resources of sensors in WSN inflict unavailability of a lucid line of defense to ensure perfect security. In order to provide holistic security, protections must be incorporated in every component of healthcare sensor networks. This paper proposes an efficient security scheme for healthcare applications of WSN which uses the notion of public key cryptosystem. Our entire security scheme comprises basically of two parts; a key handshaking scheme based on simple linear operations and the derivation of decryption key by a receiver node for a particular sender in the network. Our architecture allows both base station to node or node to base station secure communications, and node-to-node secure communications. We consider both the issues of stringent security and network performance to propose our security scheme.
Growth and morphogenesis at the vegetative shoot apex of Anagallis arvensis L.

A non-destructive replica method and a 3-D reconstruction algorithm are used to analyse the geometry and expansion of the shoot apex surface. Surface expansion in the central zone of the apex is slow and nearly isotropic while surface expansion in the peripheral zone is more intense and more anisotropic. Within the peripheral zone, the expansion rate, expansion anisotropy, and the direction of maximal expansion vary according to the age of adjacent leaf primordia. For each plastochron, this pattern of expansion is rotated around the apex by the Fibonacci angle. Early leaf primordium development is divided into four stages: bulging, lateral expansion, separation, and bending. These stages differ in their geometry and expansion pattern. At the bulging stage, the site of primordium initiation shows an intensified expansion that is nearly isotropic. The following stages develop sharp meridional gradients of expansion rates and anisotropy. The adaxial primordium boundary inferred from the surface curvature is shifting until the separation stage, when a crease develops between the primordium and the apex dome. The cells forming the crease, i.e. the future leaf axil, expand along the axil and contract across it. Thus they are arrested in this unique position.
Tectonic inheritance at a continental margin

GSA Today: v. 16, no. 2, doi: 10.1130/1052-5173(2006)016 2.0. CO;2 INTRODUCTION Forty years ago, the eastern margin of North America inspired Tuzo Wilson (1966) to ask, “Did the Atlantic close and then re-open? ” The Wilson cycle of closing and opening of ocean basins incorporates the cyclic assembly and breakup of supercontinents. Alternate processes of extension and compression of continental margins suggest an important potential for tectonic inheritance and overprinting. Now, we recognize a succession of two complete Wilson cycles in eastern North America: closing of an ocean and assembly of the Rodinia supercontinent, breakup of Rodinia and opening of the Iapetus Ocean, closing of Iapetus and assembly of the Pangaea supercontinent, and breakup of Pangaea and opening of the Atlantic Ocean (Fig. 1). Precambrian rocks of cratonic North America indicate less well-defined, earlier cycles. Tectonic inheritance at a range of scales has been recognized in the successive continental margins preserved within the crust of present eastern North America, posing several fundamental questions. Does each episode of supercontinent assembly and breakup adapt to the tectonic framework of a preexisting continental margin and, in turn, leave a mold for the next episode? Is tectonic inheritance through successive Wilson cycles a first-order constraint on the processes through which continental crust is accumulated and continental fabrics evolve? Does tectonic inheritance in the shallow crustal structures reflect a pervasive fabric of the deeper lithosphere?
Newsfeed native advertising on Facebook: young millennials’ knowledge, pet peeves, reactance and ad avoidance

Abstract This study explores how young millennials understand and respond to newsfeed native advertising on Facebook, rooting our focus on its covert nature of the ad format. Drawing insight from two persuasion-related theories, we conducted focus group interviews and in-depth interviews with Facebook users aged 19–29. The study revealed three major themes regarding their interactions with newsfeed ads: persuasion knowledge, positive and negative experiences and avoidant coping responses. Participants showed a high level of persuasion knowledge of how Facebook newsfeed ads work and ambivalent attitudes toward newsfeed native ads. Despite some benefits, newsfeed native ads presented strong negative responses, which were often accompanied by reactance and ad avoidance. Multiple themes regarding negative experiences emerged: ad intrusiveness, ad clutter, a lack of relevance, too personal, privacy concern, goal impediment and covertness. Participants also voiced less autonomy in controlling their exposure to newsfeed ads. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed and a model for future research is provided.
GABA‐producing Bifidobacterium dentium modulates visceral sensitivity in the intestine

Recurrent abdominal pain is a common and costly health‐care problem attributed, in part, to visceral hypersensitivity. Increasing evidence suggests that gut bacteria contribute to abdominal pain perception by modulating the microbiome‐gut‐brain axis. However, specific microbial signals remain poorly defined. γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a principal inhibitory neurotransmitter and a key regulator of abdominal and central pain perception from peripheral afferent neurons. Although gut bacteria are reported to produce GABA, it is not known whether the microbial‐derived neurotransmitter modulates abdominal pain.
SceNarIo workShopS for StrategIc maNagemeNt wIth Lego ® SerIouS pLay ®

Doing the right things in a given situation at the right time is the underlying formula for the achievements of every business. It is hereby not only the evolutionary success story of humankind but also the outcome of our cognitive capabilities to think ahead possible future situations. Within strategic management, companies similarly have to think ahead future situations in due time, to ensure the necessary scope for ideas and innovations and generate promising options for action. In this context scenario technique is an appropriate method for future foresight, often realized within a workshop. Lego® Serious Play®, however, is a good tool for enabling and enhancing communication within a workshop framework. The paper presented shows a synopsis of the findings derived from the application of Lego® Serious Play® within a scenario workshop that lead to reliable future options for action.
Screening for bipolar disorder and finding borderline personality disorder.

OBJECTIVE Bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder share some clinical features and have similar correlates. It is, therefore, not surprising that differential diagnosis is sometimes difficult. The Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) is the most widely used screening scale for bipolar disorder. Prior studies found a high false-positive rate on the MDQ in a heterogeneous sample of psychiatric patients and primary care patients with a history of trauma. In the present report from the Rhode Island Methods to Improve Diagnostic Assessment and Services project, we examined whether psychiatric outpatients without bipolar disorder who screened positive on the MDQ would be significantly more often diagnosed with borderline personality disorder than patients who did not screen positive. METHOD The study was conducted from September 2005 to November 2008. Five hundred thirty-four psychiatric outpatients were interviewed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV and Structured Interview for DSM-IV Personality Disorders and asked to complete the MDQ. Missing data on the MDQ reduced the sample size to 480. Approximately 10% of the study sample were diagnosed with a lifetime history of bipolar disorder (n = 52) and excluded from the initial analyses. RESULTS Borderline personality disorder was 4 times more frequently diagnosed in the MDQ positive group than the MDQ negative group (21.5% vs 4.1%, P < .001). The results were essentially the same when the analysis was restricted to patients with a current diagnosis of major depressive disorder (27.6% vs 6.9%, P = .001). Of the 98 patients who screened positive on the MDQ in the entire sample of patients, including those diagnosed with bipolar disorder, 23.5% (n = 23) were diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and 27.6% (n = 27) were diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. CONCLUSIONS Positive results on the MDQ were as likely to indicate that a patient has borderline personality disorder as bipolar disorder. The clinical utility of the MDQ in routine clinical practice is uncertain.