Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Size, Book to Market and Momentum Effects in the Australian Stock Market

We examine the significance of the size, book-to-market and momentum risk factors in explaining portfolio returns in the Australian stock market. We compare the CAPM to a four-factor model assuming static risk premia, and find that the additional factors have significant explanatory power. Under the assumption of time-varying factor loadings, though, the significance of the three additional factors becomes marginal, which suggests that size, book-to-market and momentum may proxy for misspecified market risk.
The Local and the National in Community Care: Exploring Policy and Politics in Finland and Britain

International literature on community care tends to focus on the national level of welfare institutions and policies. However, community care is largely a locally tailored service and this paper makes a case for local comparisons of community care policies. Using local case studies from Finland and Britain, the paper argues that focusing on the local level contributes to the comparative study of community care in two ways. First, local comparisons highlight the often distinctively local nature of community care policies and thereby add to our understanding of community care. Second, local comparisons extend existing cross-country explanations of community care by showing that community care is largely shaped by local politics, together with indirect structuring by national contexts. As such, the local case studies highlight the importance of the relationship between policy and politics, which has often been neglected in comparative research.
Object segmentation using low-rank representation with multiple block-diagonal priors

This paper addresses the problem of segmenting objects for natural images by leveraging multiple segmentation methods. Existing image segmentation algorithms mostly partition the image into some coherent segments instead of extracting the object entirely. We observe that basic elements (e.g., superpixels) in the common segment produced by many methods are highly-correlated - they generally belong to the same object and lead to a low-rank structure. To make use of this information, this paper presents a novel approach to learn a low-rank affinity by leveraging various algorithms for segmenting the objects. First, starting from the segments produced using various algorithms, the label information for basic elements of an image, segmentation-to-superpixel label, is generated. Second, the derived labels are used to construct the multiple block-diagonal priors which are integrated into the subsequent affinity learning process. Finally the segmentation result is achieved by applying the spectral clustering technique on the obtained affinity matrix. Comprehensive experiments on MSRC, Alpert's and Berkeley segmentation datasets validate that our proposed approach achieves superior results as compared to each individual method. Moreover, our method is shown to be competitive in comparison to the state-of-the-art methods.
Do Australian companies manage earnings to meet simple earnings benchmarks

Measurement error in unexpected accruals is an important problem for empirical earnings management research. Several recent studies avoid this problem by examining the pooled, cross–sectional distribution of reported earnings. Discontinuities in the distribution of reported earnings around key earnings thresholds may indicate the exercise of management discretion (i.e. earnings management). We apply this approach to the detection of earnings management by Australian firms. Our results generally indicate significantly more small earnings increases and small profits than expected and conversely, considerably fewer small earnings decreases and small losses than expected. These results are much stronger for larger Australian firms. We undertake an exploratory analysis of alternative explanations for our results and find some evidence consistent with management signalling its inside knowledge about the firm's expected future profitability to smooth earnings, as opposed to ‘management intent to deceive’ as an explanation for our results.
Neoclassical Consumer Demand Theory and the Demand for Money

M. Friedman (1956) suggests that the demand for money should be analyzed in terms of consumer demand theory, although often the interpretation of empirical results from studies using aggregate data appears to be in terms of the "motives approach" (i.e., transactions, precautionary, and speculative motives). The authors develop Friedman's ideas within an explicit model of consumer theory and find that they provide a consistent framework for analyzing portfolio choice and offer greater insights into results from aggregate studies of the demand for money than the motives approach. In particular, the authors provide a new interpretation of the role of nominal interest rates, inflation, and a Hicksian measure of wealth in the demand for money function. Copyright 1991 by Royal Economic Society.
Made in Germany: The German Currency Crisis of July, 1931

The Great Depression reached a turning point in the currency crises of 1931, and the German banking and currency crisis was a critical event whose causes are still debated. We demonstrate in this paper that the crisis was primarily domestic in origin; that it was a currency crisis rather than a banking crisis; and that the failure was more political than economic. German banks failed in 1931, but the problem was not primarily with them. Instead, the crisis was a failure of political will in a time of turmoil that induced a currency crisis.
Intra-organizational Knowledge Drivers in the INPD Process: The case of Wattyl Limited

While several frameworks have attempted to incorporate knowledge management within the principles of innovation, there is still scant evidence of the influence of key drivers that facilitate intra-organisational knowledge transfers to improve international new product development (INPD) processes. We draw on three related literature streams focusing on parts of the organisation, innovation and knowledge management literature and present a conceptualisation of drivers that tend to influence knowledge flows between R&D centres in three international locations. Our results are based on R&D and product managers' experiences and perceptions at Wattyl Limited, a multinational Australian manufacturer of paint and coating products. The findings demonstrate that a value-creating innovation depends on a number of internal knowledge drivers that facilitate the INPD process. They also add to further clarifying some conceptual issues in the extant literature. We also draw attention to specific messages for R&D and product managers involved in INPD processes.
Laid-Back Mobilities: Second-Home Holidays in Time and Space

Movement is central to how landscapes and places are encountered and perceived in tourism, yet the role of corporeal mobility has rarely been researched in concrete studies of tourist practices. This paper contends that embodied movement should be viewed as a‘performed art’with its own styles and modalities. It examines three different‘modes of movement’as they emerge from diaries produced by families vacationing in second homes in Denmark. By focusing on this mundane and‘immobile’type of tourism, the paper exposes the various‘travellings-in-dwelling’and‘dwellings-in-travelling’present in the practice of tourism. It concludes by recognizing the central role of embodied movement in prefiguring how places and landscapes are sensed and made sense of in tourism.
A plea for support for elite student athletes in Hong Kong secondary schools

This study examines the support given to elite student athletes (ESAs) in Hong Kong secondary schools. The research question is: ‘How do ESAs manage their academic and athletic lives, and what support is given to ESAs in the secondary school setting? ’ A total of 11 ESAs participated in semi-structured individual interviews and focus groups. Grounded theory was used. The results reveal that ESAs, in their dual roles, strive for an optimal balance between sport and studies in the specific culture of Hong Kong secondary schools. A Continuum Model of Support for ESAs in schools was constructed and CAESARS, the Campaign for Assisting Elite Student Athletes – through Research and Support, can be launched. Further study is required to identify the developing situation of ESAs.
1,4-Azaindole, a Potential Drug Candidate for Treatment of Tuberculosis

ABSTRACT New therapeutic strategies against multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Mycobacterium tuberculosis are urgently required to combat the global tuberculosis (TB) threat. Toward this end, we previously reported the identification of 1,4-azaindoles, a promising class of compounds with potent antitubercular activity through noncovalent inhibition of decaprenylphosphoryl-β-d-ribose 2′-epimerase (DprE1). Further, this series was optimized to improve its physicochemical properties and pharmacokinetics in mice. Here, we describe the short-listing of a potential clinical candidate, compound 2, that has potent cellular activity, drug-like properties, efficacy in mouse and rat chronic TB infection models, and minimal in vitro safety risks. We also demonstrate that the compounds, including compound 2, have no antagonistic activity with other anti-TB drugs. Moreover, compound 2 shows synergy with PA824 and TMC207 in vitro, and the synergy effect is translated in vivo with TMC207. The series is predicted to have a low clearance in humans, and the predicted human dose for compound 2 is ≤1 g/day. Altogether, our data suggest that a 1,4-azaindole (compound 2) is a promising candidate for the development of a novel anti-TB drug.
Anemia in General Medical Inpatients Prolongs Length of Stay and Increases 30-Day Unplanned Readmission Rate

Objectives Anemia, either chronic or newly developed in the hospital as a result of underlying disease and/or phlebotomy, is seen commonly among general medical inpatients, and its impact on the quality and efficiency of care is unknown. Methods This study investigated the relation among hemoglobin level, length of stay, and 30-day unplanned readmission rates in a cohort of 314 general medical inpatients 18 years old and older admitted to a teaching hospital during a period of 4 months in a large urban academic medical center, using retrospective chart review of the electronic health record. Results Anemia was common among this cohort of general medical inpatients (44.6%), and there was a statistically significant decrease in hemoglobin levels during their hospitalization. Anemic patients, as compared with nonanemic patients, had significantly longer mean and median length of stay. More important, the admission hemoglobin level and its change during hospitalization were significant predictors of increased length of stay. For every 1-U increase in admission hemoglobin level, the median length of stay was reduced by 0.5 days. For every 1-U increase in the level of hemoglobin change, the median length of stay was extended by 1.5 days. Likewise, the discharge hemoglobin level predicted the rate of 30-day unplanned readmission. For every 1-U decrease in discharge hemoglobin level, the readmission rate increased by nearly 4%. These relations remained after adjusting for common demographic and clinical variables, including age, sex, nutritional status, and number of comorbidities. Conclusions Anemia is common among general medical inpatients and adversely affects their length of stay and 30-day unplanned readmission rate.
Preventive Health Practices and Behavioral Risk Factors in Women Surviving Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects millions globally and is considered a universal public health concern. Our study addresses a considerable knowledge gap about the health of female survivors of TBI. Using a retrospective cohort study design, we examined behavioral risk factors, access to health screenings, and primary care services among women with a history of moderate to severe TBI. We compared findings with a general female population. Female survivors (n = 75) appeared to have comparable use of primary care services with the general population. Significantly more women reported poor mental health postinjury; reported alcohol consumption was also greater.
Testing Hall's permanent income hypothesis for a developing country: the case of Fiji

Hall (1978) has stimulated considerable controversy and empirical work on testing the validity of the permanent income hypothesis (PIH). Much of this work is on the developed countries. In the developing countries per capita incomes show larger fluctuations and for the majority, opportunities for intertemporal substitution are limited. This paper uses the extended framework of Campbell and Mankiw (1989) and finds that current consumption is determined by current income for more than two thirds of the consumers in Fiji.
Interdependent Happiness:Cultural Happiness under the East Asian Cultural Mandate

In order to examine how socio-economic status might undermine cultural happiness shared among East Asian cultural members, the concept of interdependent happiness - harmony with others, quiescence, and ordinariness - was measured using representative adults from Thailand living in both rural and urban areas. This study draws on the previous studies which show culturally shared understandings of the self as being relational and contextual among East Asians. I argue here that among Thai people, who live by traditional Buddhist practices and are experiencing rapid economic development, those with a high socio-economic status - who earn more money, are educated for a longer period of time, and hold administrative positions - would prove to have lowered interdependent happiness. The results of the study support this claim and while objective socio-economic status showed negative correlation with the interdependent happiness, it showed a negligible correlation with general happiness. These results provide the basis for the argument that within East Asian countries increased objective socio-economic status might undermine East Asian cultural well-being.
Want to improve strategic execution? Simons says levers

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe four levers that managers can use to effectively implement strategy.Design/methodology/approach – Draws on the performance management literature, in particular Simons' levers of control framework, to describe and illustrate practical examples of diagnostic, belief, boundary, and interactive controls.Findings – To fully realize the potential of their firm's strategy, managers need to get the levers to work in concert. Failure to accomplish this may result in underperformance, a loss of reputation, or even extinction.Practical implications – To successfully implement their firm's strategy, managers must: get employees to buy into the firm's belief system; delineate those activities that may place their firm in jeopardy and declare these off limits to employees; communicate strategy to employees by developing metrics, setting targets, and aligning incentive; and become personally involved in those decisions which relate to strategic threats and opportunities.
Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study of the Safety, Tolerability, Antiviral Activity, and Pharmacokinetics of 10-Day Monotherapy With BMS-986001, a Novel HIV NRTI, in Treatment-Experienced HIV-1–Infected Subjects

Objective:To investigate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and antiviral activity of BMS-986001 (a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor) in treatment-experienced, HIV-1–infected subjects not exposed to antiretroviral treatment in the previous 3 months. Methods:Thirty-two HIV-1–infected subjects were randomized (3:1) to receive BMS-986001 or placebo once daily for 10 days in this double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalating monotherapy phase IIa study. There were 4 treatment groups (100, 200, 300, and 600 mg, all once daily) of 8 subjects each (BMS-986001, n = 6/placebo n = 2). Results:BMS-986001 was generally well tolerated, with no discontinuations due to adverse events and no deaths occurring. Adverse events were experienced by 22 of 24 BMS-986001-treated subjects and did not seem to be dose related. The majority were mild and considered unrelated or unlikely to be related to the study drug. The pharmacokinetics of BMS-986001 were dose proportional. Median decrease in plasma HIV-1 RNA from baseline to day 11 was 0.97, 1.15, 1.28, and 1.15 log10 copies/mL for BMS-986001 at 100, 200, 300, and 600 mg, respectively. Plasma area under the curve correlated with the antiviral activity of BMS-986001, indicating that area under the curves produced by 100–600 mg doses were on the upper end of the exposure–response curve. One subject with a single thymidine analog mutation at baseline responded well to BMS-986001. Conclusions:Administration of BMS-986001 for 10 days resulted in substantial decreases in plasma HIV-1 RNA levels for all dose groups and was generally well tolerated. These data support continued clinical development of BMS-986001 at a dose of 100 mg, once daily or greater. Trial registration:EUDRACT Number 2008-004810-29.
A study of adaptable co-processors for Cyclic Redundancy Check on an FPGA

Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) is a well known error detection scheme used to detect corruption of digital content in digital networks and storage devices. In this paper, we present a study of different approaches of designing highly adaptable co-processors for CRC on an FPGA which are used in many network and server applications. The results of our research are two new architectures: adaptable and dynamically re-configurable CRC co-processors. Both architectures are highly flexible in terms of a number of CRC standards they support. We explored their scalability by processing different amount of input messages at a time. Results show that throughput doubles when we double the amount of data processed at a time. Our experimental results on adaptable CRC co-processor demonstrate re-generation latency as low as . 9 - 4. 52μs and throughput between 27.8 - 418Gbps (64 - 1024 bits of an input message). The re-configuration latency of dynamic parts of other CRC co-processor was significantly higher . 3 - . 45s, but area utilization was the least. The throughput of this architecture was between 29.25 - 347.37 Gbps.
The Norwegian Government Pension Fund: Ethics Over Efficiency

The Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global has an explicit mission to integrate long-term investment return objectives with an ambitious ethical commitment. This approach has drawn praise among Western policymakers. However, we contend that the ethical investment policy of the Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global presents a paradox, as the manner in which the country applies its ethical criteria to investment management transgresses best practice as we define it. As a result, we believe that Norway has chosen to discount functional efficiency in favor of exerting a “fundamental social perspective”. This may have unfavorable consequences in the long run. Nonetheless, we recognize the current approach is the source of the public and political legitimacy the Fund enjoys today.
China in the Eyes of Western Travelers as Represented in Travel Blogs

ABSTRACT Travel blogs provide a new way of understanding consumers' perceptions on destination and its associated products. The purpose of this study was to examine international tourists' destination image of China as represented in travel blog discourse. Data were obtained from blog entries relating to trips to China posted on three dominant travel blog websites. Content analysis facilitated by Atlas.ti 6.0 was performed on a total of 89 China-related travel blogs. The study identified the most frequently discussed aspects of tourists' experiences in China. The results also indicated that the blog authors had mixed and paradoxical images of China as identified by previous research. Marketing implications for China's tourism development based on the results were discussed.
CD14+ cell–derived IL‐29 modulates proinflammatory cytokine production in patients with allergic airway inflammation

To cite this article: He S, Li T, Chen H, Ma W, Yao Q, Yang H, Wang H, Wang F, Zhao C, Yang P. CD14+ cell–derived IL‐29 modulates proinflammatory cytokine production in patients with allergic airway inflammation. Allergy 2011; 66: 238–246.
Increasing AV Fistulas: Revisiting a Time‐Tested Solution

Despite having the lowest complication rate of all hemodialysis accesses, the prevalence of autologous arteriovenous (AV) fistulas has declined to 28% in the United States. The reasons for this decline include high early AV fistula failure rates, long maturation times, the frequent need for emergent dialysis, unavailable or poor pre‐ESRD programs and planning, patient resistance to the realities of impending ESRD, and financial disincentives to AV fistula placement. Despite these barriers, programs throughout the country have demonstrated the ability to increase AV fistula prevalence to more than 50%. The strategies employed have included increased reliance on upper arm brachiocephalic and transposed basilic vein fistulas, the use of preoperative imaging to identify the best sites for fistula creation, and aggressive attempts at salvage of nonmaturing fistulas. Other groups have systematically and successfully replaced failed grafts with upper arm brachiocephalic or bracheobasilic fistulas. These experiences clearly show that exceeding the National Kidney Foundation Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiative (NKF‐DOQI) goal of more than 50% fistula placement is achievable in the United States. Declining numbers of AV fistulas are the result of a combination of factors, including changes in our patient population and learned practice patterns coupled with a failure of our delivery system to provide education, timely referral, and incentives for fistula placement. Increasing AV fistula prevalence in the United States is achievable and will improve patient outcomes and decrease the costs of ESRD.
Pharmacodynamics of Doxycycline and Tetracycline against Staphylococcus pseudintermedius: Proposal of Canine-Specific Breakpoints for Doxycycline

ABSTRACT Doxycycline is a tetracycline that has been licensed for veterinary use in some countries, but no clinical breakpoints are available for veterinary pathogens. The objectives of this study were (i) to establish breakpoints for doxycycline and (ii) to evaluate the use of tetracycline as a surrogate to predict the doxycycline susceptibility of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius isolates. MICs and inhibition zone diameters were determined for 168 canine S. pseudintermedius isolates according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) standards. Tetracycline resistance genes were detected by PCR, and time-kill curves were determined for representative strains. In vitro pharmacodynamic and target animal pharmacokinetic data were analyzed by Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) for the development of MIC interpretive criteria. Optimal zone diameter breakpoints were defined using the standard error rate-bounded method. The two drugs displayed bacteriostatic activity and bimodal MIC distributions. Doxycycline was more active than tetracycline in non-wild-type strains. MCS and target attainment analysis indicated a certainty of ≥90% for attaining an area under the curve (AUC)/MIC ratio of >25 with a standard dosage of doxycycline (5 mg/kg of body weight every 12 h) for strains with MICs of ≤0.125 μg/ml. Tetracycline predicted doxycycline susceptibility, but current tetracycline breakpoints were inappropriate for the interpretation of doxycycline susceptibility results. Accordingly, canine-specific doxycycline MIC breakpoints (susceptible, ≤0.125 μg/ml; intermediate, 0.25 μg/ml; resistant, ≥0.5 μg/ml) and zone diameter breakpoints (susceptible, ≥25 mm; intermediate, 21 to 24 mm; resistant, ≤20 mm) and surrogate tetracycline MIC breakpoints (susceptible, ≤0.25 μg/ml; intermediate, 0.5 μg/ml; resistant, ≥1 μg/ml) and zone diameter breakpoints (susceptible, ≥23 mm; intermediate, 18 to 22 mm; resistant, ≤17 mm) were proposed based on the data generated in this study.