Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Real option premium in Hong Kong land prices

Purpose – This paper aims to identify the imbedded option value in price of auctioned land in Hong Kong, and to propose a more accurate valuation method in predicting land price.Design/methodology/approach – Based on records of land auctions and property transactions during two periods of very different market conditions, land prices are estimated using the traditional hedonic pricing method as well as the option model modified from Quigg. The results are compared to deduce whether there is any imbedded option value, thus concluding whether the option model facilitates a more accurate valuation of land prices.Findings – This study concludes that land auction prices have embedded option value in waiting to develop land. Option premiums increase with implied volatilities, which go up during market downturns, suggesting that developers place higher value on the option to develop during recessions.Research limitations/implications – The accuracy of the analysis may have been compromised by the limited number .
Intrathecal Hypobaric Versus Hyperbaric Bupivacaine with Morphine for Cesarean Section

Both hyper-and hypobaric solutions of bupivacaine are often combined with morphine to provide subarachnoid anesthesia for cesarean section. Differences in the baricity of subarachnoid solutions influence the intrathecal distribution of anesthetic drugs and would be expected to influence measurable clinical variables. We compared the effects of hyper- and hypobaric subarachnoid bupivacaine with morphine to determine whether one has significant advantages with regard to intraoperative anesthesia and postoperative analgesia in term parturients undergoing elective cesarean section. Thirty parturients were randomized to receive either hyper- or hypobaric bupivacaine (15 mg) with morphine sulfate (0.2 mg). Intraoperative outcomes compared included extent of sensory block, quality of anesthesia, and side effects. Postoperative outcomes, including pain visual analog scale scores, systemic analgesic requirements, and side effects, were monitored for 48 h. Sedation effects were quantified and compared using Trieger and digit-symbol substitution tests. We detected no differences in sensory or motor block, quality of anesthesia, quality of postoperative analgesia, incidence of side effects, or psychometric scores. Both preparations provide highly satisfactory anesthesia for cesarean section and effective postoperative analgesia. Implications: Dextrose alters the density of intrathecal bupivacaine solutions and is thought to influence subarachnoid distribution of the drug. We randomized parturients undergoing cesarean section to one of two often used spinal bupivacaine preparations, hypobaric and hyperbaric. We detected no differences in clinical outcomes between groups. (Anesth Analg 1998;87:336-40)
Endocrine Dysfunction and Growth in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Scientific literature contains numerous accounts of possible hypothalamic pituitary axis dysfunction in pediatric patients with various behavioral disorders and/or psychopathology. However, demonstrating any consistent pattern of endocrine dysfunction in these behavioral areas, if indeed such even exists, remains elusive. This chapter will review the literature regarding possible endocrine dysfunction in pediatric patients with ADHD and will focus on the two areas where publications have been the most prolific regarding possible interactions of hormones and behavior: (1) the hypothalamic pituitary adrenocortical axis and ADHD and (2) growth in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The chapter will conclude with a review of growth hormone therapy in children with ADHD, focusing primarily on ADHD children referred for poor growth and growth evaluation to a pediatric endocrine practice.
Are CFA Charterholders Better Equity Fund Managers

Does a portfolio manager's advanced professional education, as symbolized by the CFA? designation, result in superior performance? In this study of equity mutual funds (with stated objectives of equitylincome, growthlincome, growth, and aggressive growth) for the period of July 1988 to December 1992, the funds managed by at least one CFA-designated manager were riskier but better diversified than the other funds. The funds with CFA-chartered managers also outperformed the other funds as a group, although the difference was not statistically significant for all fund objectives.
High expression of CD11c indicates favorable prognosis in patients with gastric cancer.

AIM To determine the relationship between CD11c expression level and prognosis in patients with gastric cancer (GC). METHODS This retrospective survival study was performed from July 31, 2008 to June 30, 2014. Our study inclusion criteria included all the patients with GC who underwent surgical resection between January 1998 and December 2009 in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University. CD11c expression levels in 140 patients with GC at different UICC stages were evaluated using immunohistochemistry, and GC tissues from 16 cases were further verified by qRT-PCR. The χ (2) test was used to compare the patient- and disease-related factors between the low CD11c expression group and the high expression group. Univariate probabilities of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The log rank test was used to compare survival curves. Different multivariate COX models were used to estimate the association between CD11c expression and both death and recurrence risk in GC patients. RESULTS The average CD11c expression level was 5.1 ± 1.8/high power field (HPF) in 10 gastritis samples, 4.5 ± 2.3/HPF in 10 gastric polyp samples and 9.7 ± 6.3/HPF in 140 gastric cancer samples, respectively. The CD11c expression level was significantly decreased from UICC stage I to stage IV (stage I: 16.0 ± 7.4, stage II: 10.4 ± 5.5, stage III: 9.4 ± 6.1, stage IV: 5.3 ± 3.2, P < 0.001). Patients in the high CD11c expression group had a greater 3- and 5-year OS probability and longer median survival time compared with the low CD11c expression group, (67.7% vs 39.2%; 51.4% vs 29.0%; 67.0 mo vs 28.0 mo; χ(2) = 6.80, P = 0.009), and had a greater 3- and 5-year DFS probability and longer median DFS time (63.7% vs 24.0%; 49.1% vs 11.9%; 64.0 mo vs 18.0 mo; χ (2) = 15.39, P < 0.001). Patients with high CD11c high expression had a reduced risk of death (HR = 0.56, 95%CI: 0.33-0.98, P < 0.05) and relapse (HR = 0.39, 95%CI: 0.23-0.67, P < 0.01) compared with patients with low CD11c expression after adjustment of potential confounders, with the exception of tumor size. However, the protective effect related to death (HR = 0.90, 95%CI: 0.49-1.67, P = 0.749) and relapse (HR = 0.65, 95%CI: 0.36-1.19, P = 0.160) disappeared when tumor size was incorporated into the model. CONCLUSION High expression of CD11c decreased the risk of death and relapse, and may be regarded as an alternative indicator of favorable prognosis in patients with GC.
Zielorientierte Requirements Engineering Methoden zur Entwicklung von Agentensystemen (Goal oriented Requirements Engineering Methods for Developing Agent Systems)

Abstract Nach grundlegender Definition des Agentenbegriffs, wird unter Fokussierung auf eine wesentliche Eigenschaft von Softwareagenten — proaktives, zielorientiertes Verhalten und die sich daraus ableitenden Anforderungen näher beleuchtet. Ausgehend von einer Erläuterung der Problemstellung des zielorientierten Requirements Engineering wird im vorliegenden Papier eine Aufarbeitung der bisherigen Forschungsaktivitäten vorgenommen und ein systematischer Vergleich bestehender zielorientierter Requirements Engineering Methoden erarbeitet.
Tumor-associated transplantation antigens in immune rejection of mouse malignant cell hybrids.

The inability of mouse cell hybrids derived from two malignant parental cells to produce tumors in syngeneic F1 hosts was analyzed. YC hybrids, derived from the fusion of C1.1D and L1210 clls, failed to induce any tumor in adult mice, while 91% of x-irradiated newborn mice developed tumors and died. Some telocentric chromosomes were lacking in hybrid tumors; however, none of the immunologically intact adult mice developed tumors when grafted with tumors grown in x-irradiated newborn mice. This indicates that histocompatibility factors interfered in the failure of YC tumors to grow to adult hosts. Syngeneic F1 mice immunized with Y2C hybrid cells had cytotoxic antibodies against Y2C hybrids and C1.1D and L1210 parental cells. Complete absorption of cytotoxic antibodies directed against hybrid cells by mixtures of both parental cell lines demonstrates the absence of any new antigen on hybrid cells.Hyb rid cells had a higher density of C1.1D-tumor antigenic sites, as compared to C1.1D parental cells. This possibly explains the higher antigenicity and/or the higher sensitivity to immune lysis of hybrid cells.
Skills and social insurance: Evidence from the relative persistence of innovation during the financial crisis in Europe

We study private sector investments in innovation in the early days of the financial crisis (between mid 2008 and mid 2009), using a survey covering more than 5,000 firms across 21 European countries. Our interest is in how the stock of skilled labour affects the persistence of investment in innovation during a macroeconomic downturn. We infer differences in skill from national levels of participation in vocational education and training (VET) programmes interacted with levels of employment protection (EP) and unemployment insurance (RR). These forms of insurance should lead VET students to undertake training for skills which are more risky as human capital investments, but potentially more productive. We show that the strongest sustained investment in innovation is associated with a combination of high VET with either strong EP or strong RR. The result supports the view that the supply of skills makes an important contribution to innovation, and that social insurance can encourage socially beneficial risk-taking in educational choices.
Characterization Of Whey Protein Emulsion Films

Stearic acid was incorporated into whey protein through emulsification to produce films. Whey protein films were prepared by dispersing 6.5% protein in distilled water. Glycerol was the plasticizer agent. Stearic acid was added at different levels (0.0 to 1.0%) and the films were analyzed at different pHs (5.0, 6.0, 7.0 and 9.0). The emulsion films were evaluated for mechanical properties, water vapor permeability and protein solubility. It was observed that water vapor permeability and protein solubility values for the film decreased with increasing fatty acid content in the film, but the mechanical properties also decreased.
Sewage bacteriophage photoinactivation by cationic porphyrins: a study of charge effect

Photodynamic therapy has been used to inactivate microorganisms through the use of targeted photosensitizers. Recently the inactivation of bacteria in residual waters has been reported, but nothing is known about photoinactivation of environmental bacteriophages, which are often used as indicators of human enteric viruses. In this study we tested the effect of six cationic porphyrin derivatives with two to four charges on the photoinactivation of a sewage bacteriophage. A phage suspension of 5 × 10^7 PFU mL^−1 was exposed to white light (40 W m^−2), during 270 min, at three photosensitizer concentrations (0.5, 1.0 and 5.0 µM). Tetra- and tricationic porphyrins inactivated the T4-like sewage phage to the limits of detection, but dicationic porphyrins did not lead to a significant decrease in phage viability. At the highest photosensitizer concentration (5.0 µM), the phage was completely inactivated (>99.9999% of inactivation, reduction of 7.2 log) after 270 min by the tetracationic porphyrin. Two of the tricationic derivatives also led to phage inactivation to the limit of detection. The rate of bacteriophage photoinactivation and the efficiency of the photosensitizer appeared to vary with the charge and with the substituents in the meso -positions of the porphyrin macrocycle. Tetra- and tricationic porphyrins can, therefore, be used as a new method for inactivating sewage bacteriophages that are frequently used as human enteric virus indicators. The complete inactivation of viruses with low light intensity means that this methodology can be used even on cloudy days and during winter, opening the possibility to develop new technologies for wastewater treatment.
Effect of 1,25(OH)2 Vitamin D3 Analogs on Differentiation Induction and Cytokine Modulation in Blasts from Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients

In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), cell proliferation and differentiation are uncoupled, causing a maturation block. Induction of terminal differentiation is a potential therapeutic strategy. 1alpha, 25(OH)2 Vitamin D3 regulates differentiation and is immunomodulatory at concentrations causing severe hypercalcemia, thus limiting its use. We investigated 1alpha, 25(OH)2 Vitamin D3 and 5 of its more potent analogs with reduced calcium resorbing activity for differentiation of blast cells from AML (FAB M1) patients, compared to TPA. Blast phenotype, p-glycoprotein expression, cytokine production, and lineage specificity were examined. The Vitamin D3 analogs had no effect on cell viability and proliferation. They induced incomplete differentiation, with increase in AP, NSE and NBT positivity of cells, but no cell sticking and spreading as observed with TPA. The analogs were more effective than the parent compound. They also inhibited the production of IL-6 and IL-8. Vitamin D3 and its analogs can induce differentiation of primary cells from AML patients in vitro, but may need to be combined with other agents for terminal differentiation of blasts and effective therapy in vivo.
Why did the pheasant cross the road? Long-term road mortality patterns in relation to management changes

Pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) are commonly killed on UK roads, presenting a threat to motorists and a loss to the game shooting industry. Pheasants may be inherently susceptible, or the recent increase in their artificial rearing and release may have exacerbated the situation, either through population increases or because artificial rearing has altered movement behaviour. We compared intra-annual patterns of roadkill reported in the UK from the 1960s (prior to the onset of mass release programmes) with that from the 2010s (when pheasant release was well established and widespread), considering roadkill sex and locations and accounting for changes in traffic levels. Pheasants in the UK are disproportionately likely to be reported killed on roads. However, this likelihood has not changed notably over the past 50 years. Instead, the timing of roadkill has changed. Pheasants in the 2010s are no longer susceptible during their breeding season, unlike in the 1960s, perhaps because relatively few breed successfully. Instead, roadkill first peaks in September–November as pheasants disperse from release pens, females first. Roadkill declines over winter, but when supplementary feeding ceases in February, we see a second peak in roadkill. Roadkill rates are higher in regions of the UK where there is little arable farming and hence natural food supplies are scarce.
East versus West: A comparison of online destination marketing in China and the USA

The internet is playing an increasingly important role in destination marketing. To explore the current situation of online marketing in major destinations, this study compared destination marketing organisation (DMO) websites in the USA and China. By applying a modified balanced scorecard approach, website marketing strategies, web page designs, marketing information and technical qualities were evaluated. The main purpose was to determine similarities and differences among the official DMO websites in the USA and China. Four tiers of DMO websites were evaluated: state tourism offices and convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) in the USA, and provincial and city tourism administrations in China. US DMO websites were found to be superior to those in China in terms of marketing strategies and information, and US CVB sites received the highest evaluations. Based on the evaluation results, recommendations were made on how DMOs can improve their websites to develop them into more effective destination marketing tools.
Retinotopy mapping for Face Stimuli And Attention in the fusiform face area

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been used for over a decade to study early cortical retinotopic maps in the peripheral visual areas in the human brain. However, few data were about the higher visual area, especially the object selected activation area. Novel mapping stimuli composed of face figures were used to study the extent and layout of multiple retinotopic regions in the fusiform face area and to examine the independent manipulation of retinotopic responses by stimuli of face and by attention of face. In the face defining task, a region of the fusiform face area (FFA) was exhibited face activated. Similar as the in the peripheral visual areas, FFA aslo had retinotopic esponsive to face stimuli and attention. The present results show that the attention+stimuli task, stimuli task, and attention task, the FFA has significant activities for the both left and right filed face wedge. The FFA both also had a phase change along the Fusiform gyrus, especial in the attention+stimuli task, stimuli task. This result reflected the topographic character derived by attention and stimuli. Moreover, the perception is modulated by attention.
Entrainment of the Human Circadian System by Light

The periodic light-dark cycle is the dominant environmental synchronizer used by humans to entrain to the geophysical 24-h day. Entrainment is a fundamental property of circadian systems by which the period of the internal clock (τ) is synchronized to the period of the entraining stimuli (T cycle). An important aspect of entrainment in humans is the maintenance of an appropriate phase relationship between the circadian system, the timing of sleep and wakefulness, and environmental time (a.k.a. the phase angle of entrainment) to maintain wakefulness throughout the day and consolidated sleep at night. In this article, we review these concepts and the methods for assessing circadian phase and period in humans, as well as discuss findings on the phase angle of entrainment in healthy adults. We review findings from studies that examine how the phase, intensity, duration, and spectral characteristics of light affect the response of the human biological clock and discuss studies on entrainment in humans, including recent studies of the minimum light intensity required for entrainment. We briefly review conditions and disorders in which failure of entrainment occurs. We provide an integrated perspective on circadian entrainment in humans with respect to recent advances in our knowledge of circadian period and of the effects of light on the biological clock in humans.
A discursive examination of the nature, determinants and impact of organisational commitment

This paper analyses various conceptualisations of organisational commitment and posits an inclusive model of commitment derived in part from past research endeavours. Our proposed framework captures six subfactors of commitment framed within five themes (emotion, finance, esteem, culture and focus). The relationship of commitment to strategy and the role of strategy in determining antecedents of commitment are then examined. Additionally, commitment as an intervening variable affected by and affecting various antecedents and consequences respectively are discussed. Finally, the framework is used to identify further areas of research into this important organisational concept.
INFLUENCE FUNCTIONS FOR POLICY IMPACT ANALYSIS

Social evaluation functions used in policy impact analysis can be viewed as real-valued functionals of the underlying outcome distributions. Influence functions may be used to identify the sources of variation in social outcomes in terms of individual or household characteristics. This chapter sets forth in clear terms the definition of the influence function and recentered influence function, and catalogs these functions for a wide range of distributional statistics, including measures of central tendency, inequality, and poverty and also measures of the degree of pro-poorness of a shock- or policy-induced change in income levels.
Individual Attitudes Toward Anti-Corruption Policies in Sub-Saharan Africa: Microeconometric Evidence

This study examines African populations` attitudes toward anti-corruption policies. Previous studies only look at individuals` experiences or attitudes with respect to corruption itself or its prevalence. Relying on micro data from six Sub-Saharan African countries and using ordered probit models, we show that social factors (education, employment, living conditions, etc.) significantly affect the citizens` attitudes toward anti-corruption strategies. We also highlight the importance of political characteristics such as access to information (press, media, radio); trust in the court of appeal; participations in demonstrations.
Political activities of interest organizations : Conflicting interests, converging strategies.

Why do interest organizations do what they do? Organized political activities could find their basis in the desire for organizational survival. Alternatively, the activities of interest organizations may be mainly understood in relation to government institutions and public policy. Last, the key rationale for political activities could be seen to relate to certain political principles more generally. Taking account of these contrasting assumptions, this thesis takes an exchange theoretical perspective and examines the activities EU and Dutch interest organizations (n=517) and political claims in the newspaper in seven European countries (n=approx 3000). The key findings are that (1) business interests seem better represented than other types of interests, (2) different types of interests (i.e. NGO⦣8364;™s, businesses, social interests, citizen groups) use very similar tactics to seek influence on public policy, and (3) interest organizations seem to have difficulty in getting access in the news media because ⦣8364;˜official sources⦣8364;™ seem to be preferred by journalists. These and other findings call for an adjustment of some of the classic assumptions in the field of interest group research ⦣8364;“ among others on differences between interests and across systems. It calls for improved theories on variation in political strategies between issues.
Analysis and application of theoretical gain curves to the design of multi-quantum-well lasers

Gain/current curves for a single quantum well are calculated. The optimum well number, cavity length, threshold current, and current density of multi-quantum-well (MQW) lasers are derived in terms of this gain curve. The limiting performance of MQW lasers is found to be better than that of graded refractive index (GRIN) lasers, assuming comparable efficiencies and spontaneous emission linewidths. The optimum threshold current for an MQW laser with a 7 μm cavity and 90 percent facet reflectivity is\sim50 \muA/μm.