Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Environmental and Social Performance on Financial Performance: Evidence from Romania’s Listed Entities

Companies that are listed on a stock exchange should know that reporting only financial measures is not enough for ensuring sustainable development. To be truly competitive, they should also include information about environmental policies and about the benefits that the company offers to its employees. The present research aims to provide information on how Romanian listed companies report environmental and social indicators and whether or not this has an impact on financial performance. We used a four time period panel fixed effect model for Romanian companies that are listed in the first category of the Bucharest Stock of Exchange. The results point out that increasing water, air and soil protection has a negative impact on current return on equity, while no effects were detected on return on assets and stock market returns. Other environmental variables such as gas, energy or sound were found not to be statistically significant. Training and benefits after retirement have a mixed effect on financial measures. The research correlates Romanian accounting regulation changes with companies’ characteristics and the influence of financial audit on financial performance, and concludes that increasing environmental and social protection could have an impact on financial performance in the long run, as positive correlation was detected between social or environmental performance and stock market returns one year after the changes occurred.
Sensor orientation invariant mobile gait biometrics

Accelerometers and gyroscopes embedded in mobile devices have shown great potential for non-obtrusive gait biometrics by directly capturing a user's characteristic locomotion. Despite the success in gait analysis under controlled experimental settings using these sensors, their performance in realistic scenarios is unsatisfactory due to data dependency on sensor placement. In practice, the placement of mobile devices is unconstrained. In this paper, we propose a novel gait representation for accelerometer and gyroscope data which is both sensor-orientation-invariant and highly discriminative to enable high-performance gait biometrics for real-world applications. We also adopt the i-vector paradigm, a state-of-the-art machine learning technique widely used for speaker recognition, to extract gait identities using the proposed gait representation. Performance studies using both the naturalistic McGill University gait dataset and the Osaka University gait dataset containing 744 subjects have shown dominant superiority of this novel gait biometrics approach compared to existing methods.
Non-determinism in CS high-school curricula

One of the units in the relatively new high school CS curriculum which is being implemented in Israel is a theoretical unit on computational models. It includes deterministic and non-deterministic finite automata, regular and non-regular languages, closure properties of regular languages, pushdown automata, closure properties of context free languages, turing machines, the church-turing thesis and the halting problem. This paper focuses on part of a study we conducted on the unit, dealing with the topic of non-determinism of finite automata. One of the aspects dealt with was how students perceived non-determinism. 339 students were given a relatively complicated regular language, and asked to construct a finite automaton that accepts this language. We found that many students did not choose the easiest way to solve the problem: Many students preferred to construct a deterministic automaton, even though constructing a non-deterministic automaton for the language is much simpler. We analyze and categorize the students' solutions, thus shedding some light on their perception of the abstract concept of non-determinism.
Effect of magnesium sulfate pretreatment on onset and recovery characteristics of cisatracurium

Background To determine how pretreatment with magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) potentiates neuromuscular blocking agents. We investigated how the onset and recovery characteristics of cisatracurium are changed by pretreatment with MgSO4. Methods After Institutional Review Board approval, a total of 48 ASA I and II patients were devided into 2 groups. Patients in each group received either the MgSO4 30 mg/kg (group M) in 0.9% normal saline (total volume 100 ml) or 0.9% normal saline (control group C) alone intravenously for 15 min before induction of anesthesia with propofol, remifentanil and cisatracurium 0.15 mg/kg. Anesthesia was maintained with propofol and remifentanil. Electromyographical responses were measured by train-of-four. Lag time, onset time, total recovery time, clinical duration, recovery index, and recovery time were measured. The mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and ionized magnesium were also measured. Results The lag time and onset time were significantly shorter in the MgSO4 group than the control group (P < 0.05). Recovery index, recovery time, clinical duration, and total recovery time showed no significant differences in the MgSO4 group compared to the control group (P > 0.05). Mean arterial pressure was more significantly increased in the MgSO4 group than in the control group at the time point immediately after the administration of MgSO4. Heart rate showed no significant changes in both groups. The concentrations of ionized magnesium were significantly more increased at the all time point (P < 0.05). Conclusions MgSO4 results in about 29% shortening of onset time of cisatracurium (0.15 mg/kg) without prolongation on the recovery of neuromuscular block.
Odors, words and objects

The paper focuses on concepts and words referring to odors and to objects that have an odor. We argue that odors are an interesting object of study since they are evanescent, and since odor words do not refer to concrete and manipulable objects, but to scents evoked by objects. A second reason why odors are interesting is that some languages, as the Western ones, lack a specific odor lexicon, comparable in richness and variety to the color lexicon, and that performance on odors naming is typically worse than performance in color naming. In this work we discuss three main issues. First, we illustrate literature showing that, even if odor words do not have concrete referents, many languages encode them quite easily: the case of odors suggests that word meaning cannot be exhausted by the relationship with a referent, and highlights the importance of the social sharing of meaning. Second, we have discussed the peculiar status of odor concepts and words. Given their ambiguous status, their simple existence poses problems both to theories according to which concrete and abstract concepts do not differ, and to theories according to which they represent a dichotomy. Finally, we present an experiment in which we show that names of objects evoke their smell, and that these smells evoke approach and avoidance movements, in line with theories according to which words are grounded in both sensorial and motor systems.
Visual methodologies for research with refugee youth

Abstract In the current moment of social, political, economic and environmental disquiet, unprecedented numbers of children have been forced to leave their homes and settle in new communities. As schools worldwide receive increasing numbers of refugee youth, there is a pressing need for thoughtful educational research that inquires into the unique individual needs and experiences of displaced learners. Given that students’ journeys are shaped by movements across physical, cultural and linguistic spaces, we suggest that related scholarship might benefit from Third Space theory. Within this theoretical framework, neither language nor culture is static. Rather, both are continuously shaped through interactions – including those that are non-verbal. For students who may be learning in an unfamiliar language, visual methodologies offer a means and venue for communication. To explore how refugee youth might benefit from Third Space theory and visual methodologies, we first review scholarship that examines how children and schools negotiate educational space. We then describe a series of methodologies that scholars might consider when conducting research with refugee youth, including photovoice, fotonovela, digital storytelling and quilting. Significantly, pairing a Third Space theoretical framework with visual and participatory methodologies may address issues of language, power, vulnerability and ethics.
Effect of Previous-Winter Mortality on the Association between Summer Temperature and Mortality in South Korea

Background It has recently been postulated that low mortality levels in the previous winter may increase the proportion of vulnerable individuals in the pool of people at risk of heat-related death during the summer months. Objectives We explored the sensitivity of heat-related mortality in summer (June–August) to mortality in the previous winter (December–February) in Seoul, Daegu, and Incheon in South Korea, from 1992 through 2007, excluding the summer of 1994. Methods Poisson regression models adapted for time-series data were used to estimate associations between a 1°C increase in average summer temperature (on the same day and the previous day) above thresholds specific for city, age, and cause of death, and daily mortality counts. Effects were estimated separately for summers preceded by winters with low and high mortality, with adjustment for secular trends. Results Temperatures above city-specific thresholds were associated with increased mortality in all three cities. Associations were stronger in summers preceded by winters with low versus high mortality levels for all nonaccidental deaths and, to a lesser extent, among persons ≥ 65 years of age. Effect modification by previous-winter mortality was not evident when we restricted deaths to cardiovascular disease outcomes in Seoul. Conclusions Our results suggest that low winter all-cause mortality leads to higher mortality during the next summer. Evidence of a relation between increased summer heat-related mortality and previous wintertime deaths has the potential to inform public health efforts to mitigate effects of hot weather.
Pathogenesis of Acute Viral Disease Induced in Fish by Carp Interstitial Nephritis and Gill Necrosis Virus

ABSTRACT A lethal disease of koi and common carp (species Cyprinus carpio) has afflicted many fish farms worldwide since 1998, causing severe financial losses. Morbidity and mortality are restricted to common carp and koi and appear in spring and autumn, when water temperatures are 18 to 28°C. We have isolated the virus causing the disease from sick fish, propagated it in koi fin cell culture, and shown that virus from a single clone causes lethal disease in carp and koi upon infection. Intraperitoneal virus injection or bathing the fish in virus-containing water kills 85 to 100% of the fish within 7 to 21 days. This virus is similar to the previously reported koi herpesvirus; however, it has characteristics inconsistent with the herpesvirus family, and thus we have called it carp interstitial nephritis and gill necrosis virus. We examined the pathobiology of this disease in carp by using immunohistochemistry and PCR. We found large amounts of the virus in the kidneys of sick fish and smaller amounts in liver and brain. A rapid increase in the viral load in the kidneys was detected by using both immunofluorescence and semiquantitative PCR. Histological analyses of fish at various times after infection revealed signs of interstitial nephritis as early as 2 days postinfection, which increased in severity up to 10 days postinfection. There was severe gill disease evidenced by loss of villi with accompanying inflammation in the gill rakers. Minimal focal inflammation was noted in livers and brains. This report describes the etiology and pathology of a recently described viral agent in fish.
Partial zero forcing for multi-way relay networks

The ever increasing demands for mobile Internet access have resulted a significant growth in bandwidth usage. Multi-way relay networks (MWRNs) can address this challenge by improving the system spectral efficiency. In this work, we further improve the spectral efficiency of MWRNs by proposing a novel linear beamforming design, namely partial zero-forcing (PZF), for MWRNs with a multiple-input-multiple-output relay. Compared to zero-forcing (ZF), in PZF, the constraints on the relay beamforming are relaxed such that only partial user-interference, instead of all, is canceled at the relay. After receiving the relay's signal, the users eliminate the remaining interferences through self-interference and successive interference cancellation. By taking such two-stage interference cancellation, PZF better exploits the degrees-of-freedom in MWRNs and achieves higher data rates than ZF.
Towards an invariant geometry of double field theory

We introduce a geometrical framework for double field theory in which generalized Riemann and torsion tensors are defined without reference to a particular basis. This invariant geometry provides a unifying framework for the frame-like and metric-like formulations developed before. We discuss the relation to generalized geometry and give an “index-free” proof of the algebraic Bianchi identity. Finally, we analyze to what extent the generalized Riemann tensor encodes the curvatures of Riemannian geometry. We show that it contains the conventional Ricci tensor and scalar curvature but not the full Riemann tensor, suggesting the possibility of a further extension of this framework.
Converted wave dip moveout

Dip moveout (DMO) introduces a dip-dependent correction for a more appropiate transformation of prestack data into zero-offset data. Converted wave DMO has been discussed in the literature by severeal authors. Log-stretch f-k PS-DMO has been recently introduced in the literature. At the moment, however, this PS-DMO operator presents problems of handling amplitudes properly. A PP-DMO in this domain that accurately handle amplitudes already exists. Therefore, it is important to extend such operator for PS data. This new operator for converted waves is presented in this paper. I show impulse responses and real data results using the new PS-DMO operator.
A Meaningful U.S. Cap-and-Trade System to Address Climate Change

There is growing impetus for a domestic U.S. climate policy that can provide meaningful reductions in emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. In this article, I propose and analyze a scientifically sound, economically rational, and politically feasible approach for the United States to reduce its contributions to the increase in atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases. The proposal features an up-stream, economy-wide CO2 cap-and-trade system which implements a gradual trajectory of emissions reductions over time, and includes mechanisms to reduce cost uncertainty. I compare the proposed system with frequently discussed alternatives. In addition, I describe common objections to a cap-and-trade approach to the problem, and provide responses to these objections.
Mathematics, mastery and metacognition: How adding a creative approach can support children in maths

Children who hold an incremental view of ability show greater perseverance, improved help-seeking skills and are better able to cope with unexpected challenges. Classroom instruction can influence how children view themselves as learners.To explore how mastery-orientated classroom instruction, collaborative learning and metacognitive reflection can foster learners’ attitudes to their task performance. We hypothesised that using a mastery-oriented approach within a mathematics curriculum encourages metacognition, improves motivation and helps children achieve an underlying understanding of mathematical concepts thus improving mathematics performance.This paper reports an 11-week project aiming to embed problem-solving strategies within a mastery-oriented whole-class environment. Children completed pre- and post-task semi-structured interviews and maths problems in addition to the 11-week collaborative maths project. Participants were 24 children from a rural primary school in East Sussex, 12 boys and 12 girls (mean age 8 years and 9 months). The interviews are presented qualitatively and a repeated measures analysis of variance on mathematics motivation and performance was conducted.The learners showed increased metacognitive reflection on learning strategies as well as increases in girls’ motivation for mathematics.This is a small sample size and, being conducted within a typical everyday classroom, there were several uncontrolled variables. Although change was evident in both attitude and maths scores, it was difficult to apportion added value to the different variables contributing to the change in maths scores.Challenging children’s perceptions of mathematics encouraged greater self-reflection and increased motivation for girls.
Novel Ring Resonator-Based Integrated Photonic Beamformer for Broadband Phased Array Receive Antennas—Part I: Design and Performance Analysis

A novel optical beamformer concept is introduced that can be used for seamless control of the reception angle in broadband wireless receivers employing a large phased array antenna (PAA). The core of this beamformer is an optical beamforming network (OBFN), using ring resonator-based broadband delays, and coherent optical combining. The electro-optical conversion is performed by means of single-sideband suppressed carrier modulation, employing a common laser, Mach-Zehnder modulators, and a common optical sideband filter after the OBFN. The unmodulated laser signal is then re-injected in order to perform balanced coherent optical detection, for the opto-electrical conversion. This scheme minimizes the requirements on the complexity of the OBFN, and has potential for compact realization by means of full integration on chip. The impact of the optical beamformer concept on the performance of the full receiver system is analyzed, by modeling the combination of the PAA and the beamformer as an equivalent two-port RF system. The results are illustrated by a numerical example of a PAA receiver for satellite TV reception, showing that - when properly designed - the beamformer hardly affects the sensitivity of the receiver.
Vocational Training for Adolescents and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Effectiveness of the Practical Assessment Exploration System (PAES)

There are few specific, validated vocational training programs for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The Practical Assessment Exploration System (PAES) is a functional vocational skills training tool that teaches and measures vocational potential in individuals with developmental disabilities. This project utilized a mixed methods approach to better understand the effectiveness of PAES in enhancing the vocational abilities of twelve adolescents and young adults with ASD. Results indicate a statistically significant improvement in vocational skill and behaviour after completing PAES. Additional qualitative interviews with parents and attendees highlight four primary themes: strengths, benefits derived, limitations, and program suggestions. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Excellence in Research in Australia 2010, 2012, and 2015: The Rising of the Curate's Soufflé?

Objective The Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) data collections completed in 2010, 2012, and 2015 were developed by the Australian Research Council to identify the quality of research produced by the broad range of Australian tertiary education institutions. In each evaluation, the quality of research produced by the institutions was rated on a 5‐point scale ranging from “well above world standard” to “well below world standard” within each field of research (FoR). The FoRs relevant to psychology include codes 1701 (Psychology), 1702 (Cognitive Sciences), and 17 (Psychology and Other Cognitive Sciences), a combination of the aforementioned codes. Method This analysis examined and compared the ratings of the 41 Australian universities across the years 2010, 2012, and 2015 for the psychology codes (i.e., 17, 1701, and 1702), as well as examining the combined means for all three data collections. The universities were also compared according to institution type (i.e., Group of 8, the Australian Innovative Research Universities, the Australian University Technology Network, and the Regional Universities Network across years. The final analysis compared other codes relevant to psychology across the years 2010, 2012, and 2015. Results Results of the analyses revealed an overall improvement in research ratings by the universities, with most improving or at least holding their ground. Conclusion It is still concerning that almost 40% of the institutions did not meet the benchmark of at or above world standard. Some of the issues associated with the ERA data collections are discussed, and suggestions are made for improving this process.
Intervening in the intercultural learning of L2 study abroad students: From research to practice

As internationalization efforts intensify, institutions of higher education (HE) across the globe are increasing participation rates in study abroad programs. In this paper I argue that international experience alone is often not enough to propel students to higher levels of second language (L2) proficiency, global-mindedness, and intercultural sensitivity. Challenging the ‘immersion assumption’, contemporary study abroad research findings point to the need for interventions to deepen and extend the language and intercultural learning of student sojourners. To optimize the potential of study abroad, it is imperative that more efforts be made to bridge the research–teaching nexus. To underscore this point, I offer examples of two courses for student sojourners that have been inspired by my own research. While both interventions were developed in an Asian context, the approach and methodology may resonate with educators and students in other regions.
The role of PD-L1 in the radiation response and prognosis for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma related to IL-6 and T-cell immunosuppression

The aim of this study was to assess the significance of programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its association with IL-6 and radiation response. Weretrospectively enrolled 162 patients with ESCC, and examined the correlation between PD-L1 levels and clinical outcomes in esophageal cancer patients. Furthermore, the human esophageal SCC cell line CE81T and TE2 were selected for cellular experiments to investigate the role of PD-L1 in T cell functions and radiation response. Here we demonstrated that PD-L1 expression was significantly higher in esophageal cancer specimens than in non-malignant epithelium. In clinical outcome analysis, this staining of PD-L1 was positively linked to the clinical T4 stage (p=0.004), development of LN metastasis (p=0.012) and higher loco-regional failure rate (p=0.0001). In addition, the frequency of PD-L1 immunoreactivity was significantly higher in IL-6-positive esophageal cancer specimens. When IL-6 signaling was inhibited in vitro, the level of PD-L1 is significantly down-regulated. PD-L1 is a significant predictor for poor treatment response and shorter survival. As demonstrated through in vitro experiments, Irradiation increased PD-L1 expression in human esophageal cancer cells. The inhibition of T cell functions including proliferation and cytotoxicity against tumor cells might be the mechanisms responsible to the role of PD-L1 in radiation response. In conclusion, PD-L1 is important in determining the radiation response and could predict the prognosis of patients with esophageal SCC. Therefore, we suggest inhibition of PD-L1 as a potential strategy for the treatment of esophageal SCC.