Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Content curation and characterization in communities of a place. (Curation et caractérisation du contenu dans les communautés d'un lieu)

The amount of information on the Internet today overwhelms most users. Discovering relevant information (e.g. news to read or videos to watch) is time-consuming and tedious and yet it is part of the daily job of at least 80% of the employees in North America. Several information filtering systems for the web can ease this task for users. Examples fall into families such as Social Networks, Social Rating Systems and Social Bookmarking Systems. All these systems require user engagement to work (e.g. submission or rating of content). They work well in an Internet-wide community but suffer in the case smaller communities. Indeed, in smaller communities, the users' input is more scarce. We focus on communities of a place that are communities that group people who live, work or study in the same area. Examples of communities of a place are: (i) the students of a campus, (ii) the people living in a neighborhood or (iii) researchers working in the same site. Anecdotally we know that only 0.3% of workers contribute daily to their corporate social network. This information shows that there is a lack of user engagement in communities of a place.
"Leaders and followers: E-government, policy innovation and policy transfer in the European Union"

This paper looks at the impact of electronic government-widespread government use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) - on the transaction costs of policy innovation. E-government has great potential to reduce the transaction costs of innovation for those organizations that use it creatively. Government agencies relay heavily on private sector computer services providers for ICI expertise. Over time, governments develop distinctive "contracting regimes' where trends in public management reform contracting styles and markets of computer services providers produce a variety of patterns of contract relationships. Certain contract configurations can introduce new transaction cists and agency costs which offset potential gains in terms of innovation. The paper compares the UK case with the Netherlands and other international examples to conclude that countries using a "Rhineland" model of contracting - as used in the Netherlands - are more likely to experience a net reduction in transaction costs and develop more innovative styles of policy-making through e-government initiatives than those using an "Anglo¬Saxon" model - for example, the UK and various countries outside the EU such as the U.S., Australia and Japan.
Attention on Volatility and Options

This paper investigates the impact of retail investor attention, measured by Google search frequency, on option trading and option pricing as well as stock return volatility. We document a significant positive relation between Google search volume and future option trading activity of retail investors. Moreover, retail investors tend to take more bullish option positions following increased attention. Although option implied volatilities initially rise, the long run impact of Google search volume on option prices is negative, albeit small in magnitude. In contrast, we find a significantly positive and persistent relation between Google search volume and future realized stock return volatility. An option trading strategy of buying high attention delta-hedged straddles and selling low attention delta-hedged straddles generates an annual return of 6.44%, which is uncorrelated with standard risk factors. Our findings suggest that retail investor attention not only affects trading activity but also is a source of noise trader risk.
The Impacts of WTO Export Subsidy Abolition on the Agri-food Industry in the EU: A Preliminary Assessment

As a part of agricultural negotiations, the WTO members have agreed to phase out all forms of export subsidies. This study evaluates the current level and commitments of subsidised export quantities and subsidy expenditures of the EU, which is by far the largest user of export subsidies. The effects of removing subsidies are studied by a multi-region general equilibrium model GTAP on world-wide, EU wide and on the level of the Finnish agriculture. The results show decreasing prices and production in the EU for subsidised products especially in dairy, grain and meat production and slight increases in their world market prices. The effects for Finland are magnified compared to the rest of the EU and are seen especially in grains production.
Debt Maturity Choices, Multi-Stage Investments and Financing Constraints

We develop a dynamic investment options framework with optimal capital structure and analyze the effect of debt maturity. We find that in the absence of financing constraints short-term debt maximizes firm value. In contrast with most literature results, in the absence of constraints, higher volatility may increase initial debt for firms with low initial revenues, issuing long term debt that expires after the investment option maturity. This effect, which is due to the option value of receiving the value of assets and remaining tax savings, does not hold for short term debt and firms with high profitability, where an increase in volatility reduces the firm value. The importance of short-term debt is reduced in the presence of non-negative equity net worth or debt financing constraints and firms behave more conservatively in the use of initial debt. With non-negative equity net worth, higher volatility has adverse effects on the firm value, while with debt financing constraints higher volatility may enhance firm value for firms with relatively low revenue that have out-of-the-money investment options.
Conformity Level of AAOIFI Accounting Standards by Six Islamic Banks of Bangladesh

In response to this global rise in Islamic financial organism and banking, the need for setting up a common standard for the accounting function in Islamic Banks, became an unuttered need. Addressing this need, in the year 1991, the global institute for setting accounting standards for Islamic financial institutes, Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) has been established in Bahrain. This study tries to find out the conformity level of the Islamic Banks in Bangladesh with these standards. This study analyses the annual reports of six Islamic banks from Bangladesh of the year 2012. The Reports are collected from the Banks’ website sources. It is found that these six banks conform with the AAOIFI standards by 53.79% on average in financial statements. A 2.79 standard deviation in case of total conformity refers to the low level of difference among these banks in case of disclosure. This study suggests that it is highly of importance for the banks to increase the level of conformity of the AAOIFI standards to ensure the stakeholders about their sincerity and determination to comply with Islamic Shari’ah. Analysis of AAOFI standard compliance is relatively new in Bangladesh. This research study may provide some new insights into the existing Islamic literature. Keywords: Islamic Banking, Islamic Finance, AAOIFI Standards.
Autocrine Activation of CHRM3 Promotes Prostate Cancer Growth and Castration Resistance via CaM/CaMKK–Mediated Phosphorylation of Akt

Purpose: Although a previous study reported nerve ending–derived acetylcholine promoted prostate cancer invasion and metastasis by regulating the microenvironment of cancer cells, the present study aims to determine whether there is autocrine cholinergic signaling in prostate epithelial cells that promotes prostate cancer growth and castration resistance. Experimental design: In this study, IHC was performed to detect protein expression in mouse prostate tissue sections and human prostate cancer tissue sections. Subcutaneously and orthotopically xenografted tumor models were established to evaluate the functions of autocrine cholinergic signaling in regulating prostate cancer growth and castration resistance. Western blotting analysis was performed to assess the autocrine cholinergic signaling–induced signaling pathway. Results: We found the expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), the secretion of acetylcholine and the expression of CHRM3 in prostate epithelial cells, supporting the presence of autocrine cholinergic signaling in the prostate epithelium. In addition, we found that CHRM3 was upregulated in clinical prostate cancer tissues compared with adjacent non-cancer tissues. Overexpression of CHRM3 or activation of CHRM3 by carbachol promoted cell proliferation, migration, and castration resistance. On the contrary, blockading CHRM3 by shRNA or treatment with darifenacin inhibited prostate cancer growth and castration resistance both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we found that autocrine cholinergic signaling caused calmodulin/calmodulin–dependent protein kinase kinase (CaM/CaMKK)–mediated phosphorylation of Akt. Conclusions: These findings suggest that blockade of CHRM3 may represent a novel adjuvant therapy for castration-resistant prostate cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 21(20); 4676–85. ©2015 AACR.
Colour vision and dark adaptation in diabetic patients after photocoagulation

Abstract. Colour vision and dark adaptation were studied in 60 diabetic patients treated with photocoagulation. An acquired colour vision defect was found in 50% and a defective dark adaptation in 77% of the patients. Both colour vision and dark adaptation were defective in 47% of the patients. Colour vision defect only was found in 3% and dark adaptation defect only in 30% of the patients. Neither of these defects was found in 20% of the patients. The Farnsworth‐Munsell 100‐hue test showed a blue‐yellow axis in 24 of the 30 colour defective patients. In the patients with an impaired dark adaptation, the range of the cone and rod threshold elevations from the normal upper limit was from 0.2 to 1.4 log units. The Farnsworth‐Munsell 100‐hue test scores showed a significant positive correlation to the values of both cone and rod thresholds.
Reduction in duration of common colds by zinc gluconate lozenges in a double-blind study

As a possible treatment for common colds, we tested zinc gluconate lozenges in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial. One 23-mg zinc lozenge or matched placebo was dissolved in the mouth every 2 wakeful h after an initial double dose. After 7 days, 86% of 37 zinc-treated subjects were asymptomatic, compared with only 46% of 28 placebo-treated subjects (P = 0.0005). Side effects or complaints were usually minor and consisted mainly of objectionable taste and mouth irritation. Zinc lozenges shortened the average duration of common colds by about 7 days.
Measuring Financial Access Around the World

This paper introduces a new set of financial access indicators for 139 countries across the globe and describes the results of a preliminary analysis of this data set. The new data set builds on previous work using a similar methodology. The new data set features broader country coverage and greater disaggregation by type of financial product and by type of institution supplying the product -- commercial banks, specialized state run savings and development banks, banks with mutual ownership structure (such as cooperatives), and microfinance institutions. The authors use the data set to conduct a rough estimation of the number of bank accounts in the world (6.2 billion) as well as the number of banked and unbanked individuals. In developed countries, they estimate 3.2 accounts per adult and 81 percent of adults banked. By contrast, in developing countries, they estimate only 0.9 accounts per adult and 28 percent banked. In regression analysis, they find that measures of development and physical infrastructure are positively associated with the indicators of deposit account, loan, and branch penetration.
Operational Hedges and the Foreign Exchange Exposure of U.S. Multinational Corporations

This paper examines the impact of operational hedges of US multinational corporations (MNCs) on their exchange rate exposure. The two important contributions of this study are: First, it documents the importance of operational hedges as significant determinants of exchange rate risk, as measured by “breadth” and “depth” dimensions of the MNC foreign subsidiary network. Second, this finding remains robust even after examining the impact of operational hedges on exposure separately for negatively and positively exposed MNCs.
Analysis of Agreement Between 4 Lactate Threshold Measurements Methods in Professional Soccer Players

Abstract Cerda-Kohler, H, Burgos-Jara, C, Ramírez-Campillo, R, Valdés-Cerda, B, Báez, E, Zapata-Gómez, D, Cristóbal Andrade, D, and Izquierdo, M. Analysis of agreement between 4 lactate threshold measurements methods in professional soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 30(10): 2864–2870, 2016—Lactate threshold (LT) represents the inflection point of blood lactate values from rest to high-intensity exercise during an incremental test, is commonly used to determine exercise intensity, and is related to different positional roles of elite soccer players. Different methodologies have been adopted to determine the LT; however, the agreement between these methodologies in professional soccer players is unclear. Seventeen professional soccer players were recruited (age 24.7 ± 3.7 years, body mass 70.1 ± 5.3 kg, height 172.8 ± 7.3 cm) and performed an incremental treadmill test until volitional fatigue. Speed at LT (LTspeed), heart rate at LT (LTHR), and lactate values from capillary blood samples obtained at 3-minute intervals were analyzed using 4 LT measurement methods: visual inspection (VI), maximum distance (Dmax), modified Dmax (DmaxM), and logarithmic (log-log). Only Bland-Altman analysis for LTHR showed agreement between VI and Dmax, between VI and DmaxM, and between Dmax and DmaxM methods. No agreement between methods was observed after intraclass correlation coefficient and 95% one-sided lower-limit analysis. Comparative results showed that LTspeed was lower (p < 0.01) with the log-log method compared with the Dmax method and lower (p < 0.01) with the latter compared with the VI and DmaxM methods. Regarding LTHR, higher (p < 0.01) values were observed using the VI, DmaxM, and Dmax methods compared with the log-log method. Therefore, VI, Dmax, DmaxM, and log-log methods should not be used interchangeably for LT measurement. More studies are needed to determine a gold standard for LT detection in professional soccer players.
Gauss-Bonnet dark energy

We propose the Gauss-Bonnet dark energy model inspired by string/M-theory where standard gravity with scalar contains additional scalar-dependent coupling with a Gauss-Bonnet invariant. It is demonstrated that the effective phantom (or quintessence) phase of the late universe may occur in the presence of such a term when the scalar is phantom or for nonzero potential (for canonical scalar). However, with the increase of the curvature, the Gauss-Bonnet term may become dominant so that the phantom phase is transient and the $w=\ensuremath{-}1$ barrier may be passed. Hence, the current acceleration of the universe may be caused by a mixture of scalar phantom and/or potential or stringy effects. It is remarkable that scalar-Gauss-Bonnet coupling acts against the big rip occurrence also in phantom cosmology.
University Students’ Relationship-Based Mentoring in School Settings

How university students perform the tasks of mentoring, and the kinds of activities that are successful and unsuccessful in relationship-based mentoring interactions when mentors are instructed to “first establish relationships and then use the relationship to promote prosocial thinking and behaviors,” remains an unfamiliar area of youth mentoring. Thus, the purpose of this study is to develop some understanding of steps criminal justice majors took and the behavioral goals and objectives they pursued during their semester-long mentoring interactions with primary, middle, and high school pupils within a local school district. Conventional content analysis methods were used to systematically identify, classify, and code themes and patterns of self-reported activities. Results show that student-mentors overwhelmingly engaged in activities that addressed known risk factors associated with antisocial thinking, attitudes, and behaviors. The results provide insights into the dynamics of this form of mentoring that emphasizes the importance of healthy relationships between protégés and mentors and advance reasons for further investigation of the effectiveness of a relationship-based mentoring approach.
Variance in direct exposure measures of typing force and wrist kinematics across hours and days among office computer workers

To determine the number of direct measurements needed to obtain a representative estimate of typing force and wrist kinematics, continuous measures of keyboard reaction force and wrist joint angle were collected at the workstation of 22 office workers while they completed their own work over three days, six hours per day. Typing force and wrist kinematics during keyboard, mouse and idle activities were calculated for each hour of measurement along with variance in measurements between subjects and between day and hour within subjects. Variance in measurements between subjects was significantly greater than variance in measurements between days and hours within subjects. Therefore, we concluded a single, one-hour period of continuous measures is sufficient to identify differences in typing force and wrist kinematics between subjects. Within subjects, day and hour of measurement had a significant effect on some measures and thus should be accounted for when comparing measures within a subject. Practitioner Summary: The dose response relationship between exposure to computer related biomechanical risk factors and musculoskeletal disorders is poorly understood due to the difficulty and cost of direct measures. This study demonstrates a single hour of direct continuous measures is sufficient to identify differences in wrist kinematics and typing force between individuals.
A critical assessment of the Protoaurignacian lithic technology at Fumane Cave and its implications for the definition of the earliest Aurignacian

In the scenario of the spread of the anatomically modern humans (AMHs) into Europe, the techno-complex known as Protoaurignacian is defined by the production of blades and bladelets within a single and continuous stone knapping sequence from the same core as the result of its progressive reduction. However, the growing re-evaluation of some assemblages is revealing that bladelets are frequently obtained from independent reduction sequences, hence discouraging the direct application of the model developed in southwestern France. High-resolution regional signatures are thus needed to reconstruct a more accurate portrait of the AMH colonization dynamic. Northeastern Italy, with the key site of Fumane Cave, is one among the regions of Mediterranean Europe worthy of consideration for reconstructing this colonization process and its cultural dynamics. Within the framework of a critical discussion of the technological definition of the Protoaurignacian and its relationship with contemporaneous industries on a regional and supra-regional scale, we present the results of a detailed analysis of the lithic technology from units A2-A1 based on reduction sequence and attribute analyses. Results show that bladelets are the first goal of production and they do not originate from reduced blade cores but from a broad range of independent and simultaneous core reduction strategies. One implication is that the most commonly used technological trait that is said to define the Protoaurignacian has been over-emphasized and that the Protoaurignacian is technologically consistent across its geographical extent. Additional data based on carinated core technology imply that this techno-complex shares a common technological background with the Early Aurignacian and that no features are restricted to one of the two facies. Furthermore, the major difference between the Protoaurignacian and Early Aurignacian appears to be more typological in nature, with retouched bladelets being less common in the Early Aurignacian.
Direct sequential evaluation of Hermite-Gaussian-like eigenvectors of the DFT matrix

The generation of orthonormal eigenvectors of a unitary matrix exemplified by the DFT matrix that are close to approximate desired eigenvectors - such as those formed by samples of the Hermite Gaussian functions - is formulated as a constrained minimization problem. The unitarity of the matrix implies the orthogonality of its eigenspaces pertaining to its distinct eigenvalues and consequently orthonormal basis are sought for each eigenspace separately. The method advocated here is based on solving a series of constrained minimization problems where in each stage one eigenvector is generated by minimizing the squared Euclidian norm of the error between that vector and its approximate counterpart subject to the constraints that this eigenvector is orthogonal to the previously evaluated ones.
Association of Hypercytokinemia in the Development of Severe Preeclampsia in a Case of Hemophagocytic Syndrome

Hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) is a syndrome presenting with signs of persistent remittent fever, hepatosplenomegaly, pancytopenia, hepatic dysfunction, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) due to hypercytokinemia caused by activated T lymphocytes and macrophages. The mortality in adults is high and a small number of complicated cases during pregnancy have been reported. We report one HPS case that developed a remittent fever, leukocytopenia, and thrombocytopenia in the 2st week of pregnancy, and abnormal blood coagulation, hepatic dysfunction, and hypercytokinemia were found. Antibiotics and immunoglobulin were given but failed to improve clinical and laboratory findings. At the 24th week, the patient was diagnosed with DIC, and antithrombin (AT) concentrate was given. With the increase in plasma levels of AT, improvements were seen in both clinical signs and laboratory findings. Bone marrow biopsies were carried out, and a diagnosis of HPS was made. Preeclampsia developed in the 27th week and it became severe. Cesarean section was performed in the 29th week because of severe preeclampsia, intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), and fetal distress. The courses of mother and newborn were uneventful. We discuss the mechanism of AT in the treatment of this syndrome and the association between this syndrome and severe preeclampsia. In conclusion, AT concentrate was very effective in suppressing cytokine production, and the possibility that severe preeclampsia developed because of hypercytokinemia, which may be one of the pathogeneses of severe preeclampsia and IUGR, was suggested.
DIFFERENCES IN THE RESISTANCE OF SULPHATE-REDUCING BACTERIA TO INHIBITORS.

Summary: Forty-five strains of sulphate-reducing bacteria showed marked differences in their resistance to Hibitane (I.C.I. Ltd.) and, to a lesser degree, to cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. Panacide (British Drug Houses Ltd.) was effective against all the strains. The relevance of these findings to modern views on the taxonomy of the sulphate-reducers and to the problem of inhibiting these organisms in the field is discussed.