Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Robustness and sensitivity analysis of risk measurement procedures

Measuring the risk of a financial portfolio involves two steps: estimating the loss distribution of the portfolio from available observations and computing a ‘risk measure’ that summarizes the risk of the portfolio. We define the notion of ‘risk measurement procedure’, which includes both of these steps, and introduce a rigorous framework for studying the robustness of risk measurement procedures and their sensitivity to changes in the data set. Our results point to a conflict between the subadditivity and robustness of risk measurement procedures and show that the same risk measure may exhibit quite different sensitivities depending on the estimation procedure used. Our results illustrate, in particular, that using recently proposed risk measures such as CVaR/expected shortfall leads to a less robust risk measurement procedure than historical Value-at-Risk. We also propose alternative risk measurement procedures that possess the robustness property.
Adjunctive Dexamethasone Affects the Expression of Genes Related to Inflammation, Neurogenesis and Apoptosis in Infant Rat Pneumococcal Meningitis

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common pathogen causing non-epidemic bacterial meningitis worldwide. The immune response and inflammatory processes contribute to the pathophysiology. Hence, the anti-inflammatory dexamethasone is advocated as adjuvant treatment although its clinical efficacy remains a question at issue. In experimental models of pneumococcal meningitis, dexamethasone increased neuronal damage in the dentate gyrus. Here, we investigated expressional changes in the hippocampus and cortex at 72 h after infection when dexamethasone was given to infant rats with pneumococcal meningitis. Nursing Wistar rats were intracisternally infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae to induce experimental meningitis or were sham-infected with pyrogen-free saline. Besides antibiotics, animals were either treated with dexamethasone or saline. Expressional changes were assessed by the use of GeneChip® Rat Exon 1.0 ST Arrays and quantitative real-time PCR. Protein levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, cytokines and chemokines were evaluated in immunoassays using Luminex xMAP® technology. In infected animals, 213 and 264 genes were significantly regulated by dexamethasone in the hippocampus and cortex respectively. Separately for the cortex and the hippocampus, Gene Ontology analysis identified clusters of biological processes which were assigned to the predefined categories “inflammation”, “growth”, “apoptosis” and others. Dexamethasone affected the expression of genes and protein levels of chemokines reflecting diminished activation of microglia. Dexamethasone-induced changes of genes related to apoptosis suggest the downregulation of the Akt-survival pathway and the induction of caspase-independent apoptosis. Signalling of pro-neurogenic pathways such as transforming growth factor pathway was reduced by dexamethasone resulting in a lack of pro-survival triggers. The anti-inflammatory properties of dexamethasone were observed on gene and protein level in experimental pneumococcal meningitis. Further dexamethasone-induced expressional changes reflect an increase of pro-apoptotic signals and a decrease of pro-neurogenic processes. The findings may help to identify potential mechanisms leading to apoptosis by dexamethasone in experimental pneumococcal meningitis.
The Authoritarian Personality

The Authoritarian Personality "invented a set of criteria by which to define personality traits, ranked these traits and their intensity in any given person on what it called the 'F scale' (F for fascist). " The personality type Adorno et al. identified can be defined by nine traits that were believed to cluster together as the result of childhood experiences. These traits include conventionalism, authoritarian submission, authoritarian aggression, anti-intellectualism, anti-intraception, superstition and stereotypy, power and "toughness", destructiveness and cynicism, projectivity, and exaggerated concerns over sex.
Laughter, smiles and grins: The role of humor in learning and facilitating

Abstract This article inquires into the role of humor in the relational learning process that takes place in adventure education programs. It presents program episodes, which the authors experienced in their practice as facilitator, staff trainer and researcher, and explores the related literature. Four aspects appear to affect whether humor either facilitates or interferes with participants' learning in development programs. First, humor plays a role in developing relationships among participants and between participants and facilitators, and hence in the relational safety that characterizes an environment conducive to learning. Second, it may play a role in creating a workable distance to sensitive learning issues. Third, humor may offer new and unexpected perspectives, which contribute to revising familiar but restrictive reference frames. Finally, humor seems to fulfill these functions to the extent that it is not planned to do so, and as such may exemplify the ‘paradox of functionality’ in relational processes.
Effects of Time-Management Practices on College Grades

A prospective study tested the hypothesis that college grade point average would be predicted by time-management practices. Ninety college students completed a time-management questionnaire in 1983; their high school Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores were obtained from college records. Principal-components analysis of the 35-item time-management instrument revealed 3 components. In 1987, 4 years later, each student's cumulative grade point average was obtained from college records. Regression analyses showed that 2 time-management components were significant predictors of cumulative grade point average (R 2 =.21) and accounted for more variance than did SAT scores (increment in R 2 =.05). It is concluded that time-management practices may influence college achievement
Grade of the inner cell mass, but not trophectoderm, predicts live birth in fresh blastocyst single transfers

Abstract Debate continues over which morphological parameter is most important in selecting blastocysts for transfer. We aimed to investigate which parameter more accurately predicts the occurrence of a live birth by designing a retrospective cohort study of 1084 fresh elective single blastocyst transfers. Primary outcome was live birth rate (LBR) and secondary outcomes were implantation, clinical pregnancy and early pregnancy loss rates. Blastocyst expansion and inner cell mass (ICM), but not trophoectoderm, were associated with LBR in the definitive multivariable regression analysis. When ICM grade dropped from A to C the likelihood of achieving a live birth was reduced by 55% (OR= 0.45, 95% CI 0.26-0.79, p = .005). These results were similar for clinical pregnancy rates. Early pregnancy loss rates of embryos with ICM grade C were more than double (38.0%) compared to those of grades A (15.95%) and B (17.17%, p = .002). The transfer of an embryo with an optimal inner cell mass reduces early pregnancy loss and increases the likelihood of a live birth. We did not find any significant association between trophectoderm and LBR in the multivariable analysis in contrast with recent studies.
Treatment of Mycobacterium abscessus Infection

Mycobacterium abscessus is often resistant to multiple antimicrobial drugs, and data supporting effective drugs or dosing regimens are limited. To better identify treatment approaches and associated toxicities, we collected a series of case reports from the Emerging Infections Network. Side effects were common and often led to changing or discontinuing therapy.
Voluntary counseling and HIV testing for pregnant women in the Kassena-Nankana district of northern Ghana: Is couple counseling the way forward?

Abstract This study reports the results of a cross-sectional questionnaire survey undertaken in the Kassena-Nankana district of Ghana to assess the perception and attitude of 270 antenatal clinic attendants towards voluntary counseling and HIV testing. It was found that although 92.6% (95% CI 88.8–95.4) of respondents indicated a willingness to get tested, only 51% (95% CI 45.0–57.2) considered HIV testing for pregnant women to be useful. Most (93.6%) indicated they would like their husbands (partners) to know the result of the test and 52.2% indicated that their husbands would be willing to accompany them to antenatal clinic (ANC) at least once during the pregnancy. The perception of the usefulness of HIV testing (OR = 8.5, 95% CI 1.8–40.0), the willingness to disclose test result to the husband (OR = 13.3, 95% CI 4.0–44.5) and perceived willingness of husband to accompany wife to antenatal clinic (OR = 5.2, 95% CI 1.4–19.8) were found to be independent predictors of a woman's willingness to get tested. The willingness to disclose test result to husband (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.1–10.5) and knowledge of at least one mode of MTCT HIV transmission (OR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.2–3.6) were found to be independent predictors of a woman's perception that getting tested was useful. The results suggest that for pregnant women in this district, the willingness to get tested for HIV does not equate with the perception of the test's usefulness, and that spouses are likely to exert strong influence on the attitude of pregnant women towards VCT. Couple counseling facilitated through couple-friendly ANC services should be explored as strategy for the intended VCT program in this district.
Effectiveness of Credit Guarantees in the Japanese Loan Market (経済研究所創立20周年記念号)

From 1998-2001, the Japanese government, in an effort to stimulate the flow of funds to the small business sector, implemented a massive credit guarantee program that was unprecedented in both scale and scope. Because the program was accessible by nearly every small firm we are able to clearly identify the policy effect. The program, therefore, presents a unique opportunity to determine if government intervention can improve the efficiency of credit allocation among bank-dependent small businesses. Utilizing a new panel data set of Japanese firms, which covers the implementation period of the program, we empirically test the theoretical predictions of Mankiw's (1986) adverse selection model. The model of credit markets under asymmetric information allows us to investigate whether government credit programs do more to stimulate small business investment, or serve to worsen the adverse selection problems prevalent in credit markets. We find evidence consistent with the former hypothesis. Specifically, we find that (1) program participants significantly increase their leverage, especially their use of long-term loans, and (2) with the exception of high-risk firms, become more efficient.
A Brief Overview of Existential Depth Psychotherapy

Abstract This article introduces the special issue of The Humanistic Psychologist, entitled “Depth, Death, and Dialogue: New Inquiries in Existential Depth Psychotherapy. ” It begins by identifying several commitments that existential psychotherapists tend to hold in common and that distinguish their approach to depth psychotherapy from others. These commitments include, among others, the meaning, ownership, there-ness, everydayness, phenomenology, and wholeness of human existence, as well as its possibility for authenticity. The article then distinguishes among different kinds of approaches to existential depth psychotherapy, using the criteria of the degree to which they harken to the intellectual Zeitgeists of America or Europe and, with this, the manner in which they address everyday (ontic) and/or philosophical (ontologic) concerns. A brief discussion of the author's understanding of the ontical and the ontological foundations for existential psychology ensues before the article closes with a crucial .
The English-only language education policy in The Gambia and low literacy rates

The education policies of 1988–2003 and 2004–2015 in The Gambia make provisions for the use of the L1 or area languages to serve as the media of instruction from Grades 1 to 3 and as school subjects from Grade 4 onwards. However, the policy on the use of L1 for teaching has not been implemented and what is practised instead is the use of English as a means of teaching from pre-primary to the tertiary level education. Since English is the weakest language of the pupils, schools witness high drop-out rates, limited access to education, inability to read with understanding in the early grades, a lack of understanding of the content of the subject taught, and more seriously, high rate of illiteracy. The present paper reviews the English-only education policy in The Gambia and proposes a reform of the education policy in that country.
After Cursing the Library: Iris Murdoch and the (In)visibility of Women in Philosophy

This article offers a critical reading of three major biographies of the British novelist and philosopher Iris Murdoch. It considers in particular how a limited concern for gender issues has hampered their portrayals of Murdoch as a creator of images and ideas. The biographies are then contrasted to a biographical sketch constructed from Murdoch's philosophical writing. The assessment of the biographies is set against the larger background of the relation between women and philosophy. In doing so, the paper offers a critical response to Sally Haslanger's recent “Musings” (Haslanger 2008), which is contrasted to Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own (1929) and Michèle Le Doeuff's Hipparchia's Choice (2007).
SEX STEREOTYPES, SCHOOL SUBJECT PREFERENCES AND CAREER ASPIRATIONS AS A FUNCTION OF SINGLE/MIXED‐SEX SCHOOLING AND PRESENCE/ABSENCE OF AN OPPOSITE SEX SIBLING

Summary. A total of 284 fourth year pupils participated in a study investigating perceptions of sexual stereotypes and school subjects according to whether (a) they attended a mixed or a single-sex school, and (b) whether they had an opposite sex sibling. Respondents completed a questionnaire measuring perceptions of traits according to gender, ratings of difficulty and enjoyment of school subjects, choices of A-level subjects and careers. It was hypothesised that pupils in the mixed school and pupils with an opposite sex sibling would hold more stereotyped views. These hypotheses were supported in several statistical interactions between sex, school type, and presence of opposite sex sibling. It was found that the presence of the opposite sex resulted in more stereotyped views in some domains, and more perceived difficulty for some school subjects for girls compared to boys.
AN INVESTIGATION OF TRANSFER IN SECOND LANGUAGE PHONOLOGY

Dans cet article Tauteur demontre que les rSgles valables pour la structure syllabique dans la langue maternelle representent une source d'interference considerable dans le travail d'apprentissage d'une langue etrangSre. L'auteur a utilise comme materiaux des fautes commises par des elSves anglophones apprenant Tarabe egyptien. Ce sont surtout les fautes de production et de reception de frontifcres entre les mots qui sont attribuees ä Interference des rSgles syllabiques de la langue maternelle. Une Hypothese gen6rale pour expliquer le transfert de regies syllabiques est presentee ä la fin de Farticle.
Changes in FSH and the pulsatile secretion of LH during treatment of ewes with bovine follicular fluid throughout the luteal phase of the oestrous cycle.

Treatment of Damline ewes with twice-daily i.v. injections of bovine follicular fluid during the luteal phase for 10 or 2 days before prostaglandin-induced luteolysis resulted in a delay in the onset of oestrous behaviour and a marginal increase in ovulation rate. During the treatment cycle, blood samples were withdrawn at 15-min intervals for 25 h from 08.00 h on days 1, 6 and 10 (day 0 = oestrus). At all three stages of the luteal phase, plasma FSH concentrations were suppressed relative to controls 3 h after the 09.00 h injection of follicular fluid and remained low until 06.00 h on the following day. In the 10-day treatment group LH pulse amplitude was significantly greater than that of controls on days 6 and 10. Pulse frequency remained high throughout treatment and was significantly higher relative to controls on day 10 despite normal progesterone levels. The results suggest that the higher pulsatile LH secretion during the luteal phase is due to reduced negative feedback effects of oestradiol occurring as a result of the follicular fluid-induced reduction in FSH.
Mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor and in KRAS are predictive and prognostic indicators in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer treated with chemotherapy alone and in combination with erlotinib.

PURPOSE Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations have been associated with tumor response to treatment with single-agent EGFR inhibitors in patients with relapsed non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The implications of EGFR mutations in patients treated with EGFR inhibitors plus first-line chemotherapy are unknown. KRAS is frequently activated in NSCLC. The relationship of KRAS mutations to outcome after EGFR inhibitor treatment has not been described. PATIENTS AND METHODS Previously untreated patients with advanced NSCLC in the phase III TRIBUTE study who were randomly assigned to carboplatin and paclitaxel with erlotinib or placebo were assessed for survival, response, and time to progression (TTP). EGFR exons 18 through 21 and KRAS exon 2 were sequenced in tumors from 274 patients. Outcomes were correlated with EGFR and KRAS mutations in retrospective subset analyses. RESULTS EGFR mutations were detected in 13% of tumors and were associated with longer survival, irrespective of treatment (P < .001). Among erlotinib-treated patients, EGFR mutations were associated with improved response rate (P < .05) and there was a trend toward an erlotinib benefit on TTP (P = .092), but not improved survival (P = .96). KRAS mutations (21% of tumors) were associated with significantly decreased TTP and survival in erlotinib plus chemotherapy-treated patients. CONCLUSION EGFR mutations may be a positive prognostic factor for survival in advanced NSCLC patients treated with chemotherapy with or without erlotinib, and may predict greater likelihood of response. Patients with KRAS-mutant NSCLC showed poorer clinical outcomes when treated with erlotinib and chemotherapy. Further studies are needed to confirm the findings of this retrospective subset analysis.
The influence of alcohol on advertising perception and recall during a sports viewing experience

Research question Subjects under the influence of alcohol are expected to show minor capabilities in comparison to sober subjects in terms of selection and processing of information. In an explorative experimental study, the authors investigate the influence of alcohol consumption on information selection, processing and recall of stadium advertising in a sports viewing setting through television or web TV broadcasting. Research methods Fixation count, fixation duration and time to first fixation were measured by means of eye tracking. Simultaneously, emotional arousal was measured through electrodermal response (EDR). Brand recall was assessed through a questionnaire. Results and findings Subjects under the influence of alcohol were found to (1) have a lower fixation count, (2) a longer fixation duration on advertising boards and (3) a higher brand recall. No significant differences in emotional arousal were found between the two groups. Implications The paper argues that longer fixation duration is an indication of increased mental elaboration (R = 0.3) and this could explain higher brand recall for alcoholised subjects. Further research is needed to confirm this. Future research on advertising effectiveness in a sports viewing setting should include alcohol as a confounding variable.
‘Anti-ageing medicine’ in Australia: Global trends and local practices to redefine ageing

Abstract Through interviews with users and providers of anti-ageing medicine in Australia as well as the analysis of various internet sites, anti-ageing clinics, journals and magazines dealing with anti-ageing medicine, this paper will argue that the antiageing industry in Australia is an example of how ‘mediascapes’ operate, seeking in this case to replicate the American model while developing a more localized practice meeting local needs, cultural orientations and regulatory frameworks. The products being studied here include some which have been on the market for many years in the Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) industry, but have only recently been rebranded as ‘anti-ageing’. These include vitamins, anti-oxidants, supplements such as beta-carotene, selenium and coenzyme Q10, homeopathic products, exercise and diet programs. Other products that have been recently labelled as ‘anti-ageing’ and are included in this study are hormone therapies, testosterone, melatonin, Human Growth Hormone (HGH), and Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). These products have been previously trialled and used in the treatment of medical problems such as heart disease, sexual dysfunction, cognitive and memory loss problems, and hormonal deficiency. Current medical research on stem cells, particularly embryonic stem cells, has also fallen within the realm of anti-ageing treatments developed from this research area and available primarily in countries with limited regulation and control over the use and availability of embryonic stem cells in the context of the private anti-ageing clinic. The differences and similarities between the practice of anti-ageing medicine in Australia and in America highlight current tensions and correspondences in the manner in which ageing is being constructed, managed and experienced. They are indicative of the impact that social policy directions, regulatory frameworks and economic policies have on the way in which ageing individuals and society at large approach the experience of old age.
Peer interaction in the foreign language classroom: what factors foster a focus on form?

Peer interaction may facilitate acquisition through fostering learner production, feedback, and noticing of form. This study examined learners’ awareness of form during peer interaction in role-play and discussion tasks over a three-week period of a tertiary intermediate-level French class. The data for the study comprised transcribed recordings of pair and group work interaction in class and subsequent primed interviews with seven students. The study investigated the incidence, focus, and source of language-related episodes arising during the tasks and explored environmental and social considerations impacting on the students’ participation in the episodes. The results suggest that the students’ willingness to attend to difficulties with language form during peer task-based interaction is affected both by the task and by social considerations.
TQM and customer satisfaction in Malaysia's service sector

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between total quality management (TQM) practices and customer satisfaction (CS) as perceived by managers' perspectives in Malaysia's service sector.Design/methodology/approach – The data are collected from 140 managers of Malaysia's service firms. The structural analysis is conducted to test the hypotheses in this paper.Findings – Results reveal that leadership, customer focus, information and analysis, and human resource focus are found to have significant and positive association with CS as perceived by Malaysian service sector's managers.Research limitations/implications – There are a few limitations for this paper. First, the time sequence of the relationships between the variables could not be determined since cross‐sectional data are used. Second, this paper is confined only to service industry. Lastly, the paper is only focused on managers instead of study employees at different hierarchical levels.Practical implications – This .