Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Realism, Skill & Incentives: Current and Future Trends in Investment Management and Investment Performance

We review the recent trends in investment management and performance research and highlight the fields expected to develop further in the future. The trend to adapt the classic CAPM and factor models seems likely to continue, with the drive for realistic factors, which best proxy the drivers of investment performance, playing a key role. The search for skill, based on enhanced benchmarks, is also a developing area, with new concepts of identification and verification at the fore. The availability of more qualitative data has allowed corporate finance themes such as agency conflict and incentives to be explored. These are some of the areas where we have seen major developments in recent years and where we expect to see continuing development.
A New Image Segmentation Method for Removing Background of Object Movies by Learning Shape Priors

This paper proposes a new object movie (OM) segmentation method that incorporates shape priors into the segmentation algorithm. The shape prior introduced into every image of the OM is learned from the 3D model reconstructed by the volumetric graph cuts. Here, the constraint derived from the discrete medial axis is used to improve the reconstruction algorithm. Our segmentation method requires only a small amount of user intervention, which is to select a subset of acceptable segmentations of the OM after the initial segmentation process. Compared to other techniques, our method provides not only the better segmentation result but also the better 3D reconstruction result
Playing the Legal Card: Using Ideation Cards to Raise Data Protection Issues within the Design Process

The regulatory climate is in a process of change. Design, having been implicated for some time, is now explicitly linked to law. This paper recognises the heightened role of designers in the regulation of ambient interactive technologies. Taking account of incumbent legal requirements is difficult. Legal rules are convoluted, uncertain, and not geared towards operationalisable heuristics or development guidelines for system designers. Privacy and data protection are a particular moral, social and legal concern for technologies. This paper seeks to understand how to make emerging European data protection regulation more accessible to our community. Our approach develops and tests a series of data protection ideation cards with teams of designers. We find that, whilst wishing to protect users, regulation is viewed as a compliance issue. Subsequently we argue for the use of instruments, such as our cards, as a means to engage designers in leading a human-centered approach to regulation.
A review of preoperative manoeuvres for prophylaxis of endophthalmitis in intraocular surgery: topical application of antibiotics, disinfectants, or both?

Purpose of review Postoperative endophthalmitis is an ophthalmic surgeon's most feared complication, as it portends a high probability of visual loss. The purpose of this article is to review the literature on the subject of preoperative measures used for prevention of postoperative endophthalmitis and to determine the effectiveness of these measures. Recent findings The present reviewed literature regarding topical prophylaxis of endophthalmitis in cataract surgery. Summary There is strong evidence for the use of povidone-iodine preoperatively for prophylaxis of postoperative endophthalmitis in ocular surgery; the evidence for topical antibiotics is not as compelling.
Safety profile of paediatric percutaneous ultrasonography-guided renal biopsies.

INTRODUCTION Renal biopsy (RB) is a decisive diagnostic procedure for patients with renal disease. Our aim was to assess the safety of RB and the prevalence of associated clinical complications. METHODS A total of 166 RBs were performed in 164 children (88 boys, 76 girls) in East Bohemia in 1997-2007. The mean age of the children was 12.9 +/- 4.1 years. All RBs were performed by a single consultant nephrologist. 27 biopsies were performed in 27 patients (16.3 percent) in 1997 under radiography control, while the remaining 139 biopsies (83.7 percent) were performed under ultrasonographic guidance. Renal ultrasonography (USG) following RB was not a general rule in patients who were biopsied under radiography control before 1998; therefore, only the USG results in patients after USG-guided RB (n = 139) were evaluated. RESULTS No major complications were encountered, and only minor complications occurred in 39 (23.5 percent) patients, which did not require medical intervention. The most common complication was asymptomatic perirenal haematoma, which was detected by USG one to three days after a USG-guided RB (30 out of 139 biopsies; 21.6 percent). Perirenal haematoma accompanied by abdominal pain occurred in two (1.4 percent) patients. Macroscopic haematuria was present in seven (4.2 percent) patients on Days 1-3 post biopsy. The complications were neither age-dependent nor were they related to the serum creatinine levels. CONCLUSION The results obtained are consistent with those in other reports of paediatric patients. The absence of major complications is a favourable outcome. Thus, the present practice of USG-guided percutaneous RB in children is safe and clinically beneficial.
Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibodies Block Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection of Dendritic Cells and Transmission to T Cells

ABSTRACT Prevention of the initial infection of mucosal dendritic cells (DC) and interruption of the subsequent transmission of HIV-1 from DC to T cells are likely to be important attributes of an effective human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vaccine. While anti-HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies have been difficult to elicit by immunization, there are several human monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that effectively neutralize virus infection of activated T cells. We investigated the ability of three well-characterized neutralizing MAbs (IgG1b12, 2F5, and 2G12) to block HIV-1 infection of human DC. DC were generated from CD14+ blood cells or obtained from cadaveric human skin. The MAbs prevented viral entry into purified DC and the ensuing productive infection in DC/T-cell cultures. When DC were first pulsed with HIV-1, MAbs blocked the subsequent transmission to unstimulated CD3+ T cells. Thus, neutralizing antibodies can block HIV-1 infection of DC and the cell-to-cell transmission of virus from infected DC to T cells. These data suggest that neutralizing antibodies could interrupt the initial events associated with mucosal transmission and regional spread of HIV-1.
Observations on interphase characterisation in polymer composites by nanoscale indentation and use of AFM cantilever torsion to identify measurement artefacts

The results presented in this paper explore the extent to which indentation in the interfacial region of polymer composites can be used to identify, unambiguously, an interphase of distinct elastic properties. Supporting evidence is presented in the form of atomic force microscopy indentation in the interfacial region of two polymer composites, a glass fibre reinforced vinylester and a glass flake reinforced polypropylene, where a transition region of measurement artefact is revealed as opposed to a physically distinct interphase. The conclusions from these tests are augmented by further work on a glass fibre reinforced phenolic using a new in situ method of identifying measurement artefacts.
Wheat allergy in children evaluated with challenge and IgE antibodies to wheat components

Wheat sensitization is common but IgE antibodies (IgE‐abs) to wheat are not predictive of clinical symptoms in children with suspected wheat allergy. Wheat allergen components other than ω‐5 gliadin have not been well studied. Our aim was to characterize the clinical profile and investigate the value of adding measurements of IgE‐abs to wheat components in a group of children with a doctor's diagnosed wheat allergy.
Asymmetric Dimethylarginine as a Surrogate Marker of Endothelial Dysfunction and Cardiovascular Risk in Patients with Systemic Rheumatic Diseases

The last few decades have witnessed an increased life expectancy of patients suffering with systemic rheumatic diseases, mainly due to improved management, advanced therapies and preventative measures. However, autoimmune disorders are associated with significantly enhanced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality not fully explained by traditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. It has been suggested that interactions between high-grade systemic inflammation and the vasculature lead to endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis, which may account for the excess risk for CVD events in this population. Diminished nitric oxide synthesis—due to down regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase—appears to play a prominent role in the imbalance between vasoactive factors, the consequent impairment of the endothelial hemostasis and the early development of atherosclerosis. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is one of the most potent endogenous inhibitors of the three isoforms of nitric oxide synthase and it is a newly discovered risk factor in the setting of diseases associated with endothelial dysfunction and adverse cardiovascular events. In the context of systemic inflammatory disorders there is increasing evidence that ADMA contributes to the vascular changes and to endothelial cell abnormalities, as several studies have revealed derangement of nitric oxide/ADMA pathway in different disease subsets. In this article we discuss the role of endothelial dysfunction in patients with rheumatic diseases, with a specific focus on the nitric oxide/ADMA system and we provide an overview on the literature pertaining to ADMA as a surrogate marker of subclinical vascular disease.
Efficacy and safety of surgical decompression in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy: results of the AOSpine North America prospective multi-center study.

BACKGROUND Cervical spondylotic myelopathy is the leading cause of spinal cord dysfunction worldwide. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of surgical decompression on functional, quality-of-life, and disability outcomes at one year after surgery in a large cohort of patients with this condition. METHODS Adult patients with symptomatic cervical spondylotic myelopathy and magnetic resonance imaging evidence of spinal cord compression were enrolled at twelve North American centers from 2005 to 2007. At enrollment, the myelopathy was categorized as mild (modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association [mJOA] score ≥ 15), moderate (mJOA = 12 to 14), or severe (mJOA < 12). Patients were followed prospectively for one year, at which point the outcomes of interest included the mJOA score, Nurick grade, Neck Disability Index (NDI), and Short Form-36 version 2 (SF-36v2). All outcomes at one year were compared with the preoperative values with use of univariate paired statistics. Outcomes were also compared among the severity classes with use of one-way analysis of variance. Finally, a multivariate analysis that adjusted for baseline differences among the severity groups was performed. Treatment-related complication data were collected and the overall complication rate was calculated. RESULTS Eighty-five (30.6%) of the 278 enrolled patients had mild cervical spondylotic myelopathy, 110 (39.6%) had moderate disease, and 83 (29.9%) had severe disease preoperatively. One-year follow-up data were available for 222 (85.4%) of 260 patients. There was a significant improvement from baseline to one year postoperatively (p < 0.05) in the mJOA score, Nurick grade, NDI score, and all SF-36v2 health dimensions (including the mental and physical health composite scores) except general health. With the exception of the change in the mJOA, the degree of improvement did not depend on the severity of the preoperative symptoms. These results remained unchanged after adjusting for relevant confounders in the multivariate analysis. Fifty-two patients experienced complications (prevalence, 18.7%), with no significant differences among the severity groups. CONCLUSIONS Surgical decompression for the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy was associated with improvement in functional, disability-related, and quality-of-life outcomes at one year of follow-up for all disease severity categories. Furthermore, complication rates observed in the study were commensurate with those in previously reported cervical spondylotic myelopathy series.
Stratification: Social Division and Inequality

1. Introduction 2. Images of Inequality 3. Founding Ideas 4. Sins of the Fathers 5. Name, Rank and Number 6. Race and Ethnicity 7. Gender 8. Fragmentation, Culture and Anarchy 9. Social Space 10. Someone Like Me 11. Hierarchy Makes You Sick 12. Movements in Space 13. Us and Them 14. Conclusion
LESS MORALIZED Core Values vs . Common Sense : Consequentialist Views Appear Less Rooted in Morality

When a speaker presents an opinion, an important factor in audiences’ reactions is whether the speaker seems to be basing her decision on ethical (as opposed to more pragmatic) concerns. We argue that, despite a consequentialist philosophical tradition that views utilitarian consequences as the basis for moral reasoning, lay perceivers think that speakers using arguments based on consequences do not construe the issue as a moral one. Four experiments show that, for both political views (including real State of the Union quotations) and organizational policies, consequentialist views are seen to express less moralization than deontological views, and even sometimes than views presented with no explicit justification. We also demonstrate that perceived moralization in turn affects speakers’ perceived commitment to the issue and authenticity. These findings shed light on lay conceptions of morality and have practical implications for people considering how to express moral opinions publicly.
Neurocognitive functioning in pediatric human immunodeficiency virus infection: effects of combined therapy.

OBJECTIVES To assess the impact of combination antiretroviral therapy on neurocognitive outcomes in perinatally human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients and to determine if CD4 percentage and plasma HIV-1 RNA level (viral load) are predictive of future neurocognitive function. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING An HIV-dedicated urban care center. PARTICIPANTS One hundred forty-six perinatally HIV-infected children born between June 1990 and May 2003 with at least 1 neurocognitive evaluation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Neurocognitive standard testing scores as well as diagnosis of progressive encephalopathy, probable progressive encephalopathy, or static encephalopathy. RESULTS The prevalence of progressive encephalopathy has decreased in children born prior to 1996 (period 1) compared with those born after 1996 (period 2) from 29.6% to 12.1% (P = .049). The prevalence of all progressive encephalopathy and static encephalopathy decreased from 40.7% to 18.2% in period 1 vs 2 (P = .02). For those diagnosed as neurocognitively healthy, neurocognitive scores remained stable over time with a mean (SD) standard score of 89.6 (11.8) at first evaluation compared with 91.9 (11.93) at most recent evaluation. The most recent mean (SD) standard score increased from 82.3 (18) to 87.2 (10.49) in period 1 vs period 2 (P = .001). A weak association was found between both the mean viral load (P = .06) and CD4 percentage (P<.001) and neurocognitive testing score 6 months later. CONCLUSIONS Since 1996, fewer children have been diagnosed with progressive encephalopathy, and neurocognitive functioning is preserved over time in those deemed neurocognitively healthy at entry. Viral load and CD4 percentage are marginally predictive of future changes in neurocognitive standard scores. These data support the observation that combination antiretroviral therapy is associated with improved neurocognitive outcomes in children with perinatally acquired HIV infection.
Rational Momentum Effects

Momentum effects in stock returns need not imply investor irrationality, heterogeneous information, or market frictions. A simple, single-firm model with a standard pricing kernel can produce such effects when expected dividend growth rates vary over time. An enhanced model, under which persistent growth rate shocks occur episodically, can match many of the features documented by the empirical research. The same basic mechanism could potentially account for underreaction anomalies in general.
Characterization of multiple adhesive and counteradhesive domains in the extracellular matrix protein cytotactin

The extracellular matrix molecule cytotactin is a multidomain protein that plays a role in cell migration, proliferation, and differentiation during development. To analyze the structure-function relationships of the different domains of this glycoprotein, we have prepared a series of fusion constructs in bacterial expression vectors. Results obtained using a number of adhesion assays suggest that at least four independent cell binding regions are distributed among the various cytotactin domains. Two of these are adhesive; two others appear to be counteradhesive in that they inhibit cell attachment to otherwise favorable substrates. The adhesive regions were mapped to the fibronectin type III repeats II-VI and the fibrinogen domain. The morphology of the cells plated onto these adhesive fragments differed; the cells spread on the fibronectin type III repeats as they do on fibronectin, but remained round on the fibrinogen domain. The counteradhesive properties of the molecule were mapped to the EGF-like repeats and the last two fibronectin type III repeats, VII-VIII. The latter region also contained a cell attachment activity that was observed only after proteolysis of the cells. Several cell types were used in these analyses, including fibroblasts, neurons, and glia, all of which are known to bind to cytotactin. The different domains exert their effects in a concentration-dependent manner and can be inhibited by an excess of the soluble molecule, consistent with the hypothesis that the observed properties are mediated by specific receptors. Moreover, it appears that some of these receptors are restricted to particular cell types. For example, glial cells bound better than neurons to the fibrinogen domain and fibroblasts bound better than glia and neurons to the EGF fragment. These results provide a basis for understanding the multiple activities of cytotactin and a framework for isolating different receptors that mediate the various cellular responses to this molecule.
A 500µW neural tag with 2µVrms AFE and frequency-multiplying MICS/ISM FSK transmitter

Advances in electronic-neural interfaces have shown great potential for both neuroscience research and medical devices. Much of the work to date has focused on short-range inductive links for power and communication transfer [1]. There is an emerging need for active miniaturized systems that stream neural data in the far field, which would enable the observation of brain activity in unconstrained animals such as mice or moths. Such systems cannot rely on near-field power transfer, and must be powered by small batteries or energy harvesters. We present a 500µW fully integrated neural interface that wirelessly streams a digitized neural waveform over 15m.
Social learning spreads knowledge about dangerous humans among American crows

Individuals face evolutionary trade-offs between the acquisition of costly but accurate information gained firsthand and the use of inexpensive but possibly less reliable social information. American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) use both sources of information to learn the facial features of a dangerous person. We exposed wild crows to a novel ‘dangerous face’ by wearing a unique mask as we trapped, banded and released 7–15 birds at five study sites near Seattle, WA, USA. An immediate scolding response to the dangerous mask after trapping by previously captured crows demonstrates individual learning, while an immediate response by crows that were not captured probably represents conditioning to the trapping scene by the mob of birds that assembled during the capture. Later recognition of dangerous masks by lone crows that were never captured is consistent with horizontal social learning. Independent scolding by young crows, whose parents had conditioned them to scold the dangerous mask, demonstrates vertical social learning. Crows that directly experienced trapping later discriminated among dangerous and neutral masks more precisely than did crows that learned through social means. Learning enabled scolding to double in frequency and spread at least 1.2 km from the place of origin over a 5 year period at one site.
Piracy or Promotion? The Impact of the Broadband Internet Penetration on DVD Sales

The movie industry represents one area where digital networks have had a particularly strong impact on economic activity. These digital networks provide copyright holders with new sales and promotional channels for their content, while also providing consumers with new opportunities to obtain high quality free copies of this content. Broadband access is a necessary condition for movie piracy and the movie industry has argued that the dominant impact of increased broadband Internet penetration will be increased piracy, and reduced media sales. We analyze this hypothesis by applying fixed effects and first difference models to a new dataset quantifying changes in broadband Internet penetration and DVD sales at a local level from 2000 to 2003. Contrary to industry concerns, we find that increased broadband Internet penetration leads to a significant increase in DVD sales. Our results are robust across a variety of specifications. Using the most conservative results, we find that 9.3% of the $14.1 billion increase in DVD sales during our study period can be directly attributed to increased broadband Internet penetration. This corresponds to a $1.3 billion increase in DVD revenue and a $630 million increase in profits to movie studios.