Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Gap between the Returns that Calculated by Capital Asset Pricing Model and the Actual Returns in Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX): Evidence from the United Arab Emirates

This study aimed to compare the Historical Returns (Rit) in companies listed in Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) with the return which calculated by Capital Asset Pricing Model (E(Rit)) for the same companies and periods, and trying to figure out the level of dispersion, distortions and differences between them, and trying to figure out the strengths and weaknesses for the CAPM to explain the variances which happened in the Annual Return. The researcher used the time series analysis to achieve the target of this study, using Microsoft Office Excel software to introduce some figure and graphs which considered as output from Scatter charts, which are often used to find out if there's a relationship between variable X and Y to make judgment on the gap between the variables mentioned before. The researcher found that in the most of the study sample firms the capital asset pricing model could not to predict the returns were generated by companies in Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), except in the banking sector, the result was amazing because the graphs which output from the time series analysis show the ability of CAPM to predict the Historical Returns, they were very closed and they Walking in the same direction without volatility. After the results appear in the time-series analysis researcher can says that there are weaknesses in the ability of CAPM to predict the returns in the financial markets which consistent with the (Fama & French, 1992) and with most studies conducted in this regard, but the model shows high ability to predict the returns in the banking sector. Therefore, the researchers can generalization this result on the financial markets in the United Arab Emirates. uage:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA'>A critical demand for more nurses 30%-40% in certain units due to high work load. Most of the nurses were not satisfied about monitory compensation, participation in decision making and inadequate supplies.
µ-synthesis control for an islanded microgrid with structured uncertainties

This paper presents a robust control scheme for an islanded microgrid in the presence of structured uncertainties. The microgrid consists of parallel connection of two Distributed Generation (DG) units and a passive load. The DG units are connected to the passive load by using the power electronics converters. The microgrid model is structurally uncertain due to the large perturbations in the load parameters. To deal with the uncertainties, a Linear Fractional Representation (LFR) of the parametrically uncertain system is obtained. To achieve robust performance, the µ-synthesis approach is applied to the derived LFR model to design a µ controller. The resultant controller is structurally simple and satisfies the mixed sensitivity constrains imposed by weighting functions in the prescribed range of parameter perturbations. Furthermore, a robust stability analysis of the proposed controller is carried out in this paper. Simulation case studies performed in MATLAB/SimPowerSystems software confirm the effectiveness of the proposed control system.
Apical closure device for transapical valve procedures.

OBJECTIVES Transapical transcatheter valve procedures are performed through a left minithoracotomy and require apical sutures to seal the apical access site. The use of large-calibre devices compromises any attempt to fully perform the procedure with a thoracoscopic approach or percutaneously. We report our preliminary experience in animals with a new sutureless self-expandable apical occluder, engineered to perform transapical access site closure in a minimally invasive setting with large-size introducer sheaths. METHODS The apical occluder with extendable waist was implanted in six young pigs during an acute animal study. Under general anaesthesia, animals (mean weight: 62 ± 8 kg) received full heparinization (heparin: 100 UI/kg; activated clotting time above 250 s). Through a median sternotomy, a 21-Fr Certitude™ introducer sheath (outer diameter: 25 Fr) was placed over the wire into the cardiac apex. The delivery catheter carrying the constrained apical plug was inserted into the sheath and deployed under fluoroscopic control, whereas the Certitude™ was retrieved. After protamine infusion, we observed and recorded the 1-h bleeding with standard haemodynamic parameters. Animals were sacrificed, and hearts analysed. RESULTS Six apical closure devices were successfully introduced and deployed in six pig hearts through large-size apical sheaths at first attempt. In all animals, the plugs guaranteed immediate apical sealing and traces of blood were collected in the pericardium during the 1-h observational period (mean of 16 ± 3.4 ml of blood loss per animal). Haemodynamic parameters remained stable during the entire study period and no plug dislodgement was detected with normal systemic blood pressure (mean arterial mean blood pressure: 65 ± 7 mmHg). Post-mortem analysis confirmed the full deployment and good fixation of all plugs, without macroscopic damages to the surrounding myocardium. CONCLUSIONS This sutureless self-expandable apical occluder is a simple device capable of sealing large-size apical access sites (20-35 Fr) in an acute animal study. This approach is a step further towards less invasive transapical valve procedures in the clinical setting, and further animal tests will be performed to confirm the long-term efficacy and safety of this device.
Low Quality of Life and Depressive Symptoms as an Independent Risk Factor for Erectile Dysfunction in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

INTRODUCTION Accumulating evidence indicates that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with a high prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED), but the factors that predict the risk of ED in OSA patients have yet to be defined clearly. AIMS The aims of the present study were to investigate the clinical characteristics of OSA patients with ED and to identify plausible predictors of ED. METHODS The present cross-sectional analysis included 713 male patients who visited Seoul National University Hospital for snoring and/or daytime sleepiness from 2006 to 2014. An in-laboratory polysomnography procedure was conducted to obtain objective recordings of OSA and other sleep parameters. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The demographic data of all patients were obtained, and each patient completed all requirements of the following questionnaires: the Calgary Sleep Apnea Quality of Life Index (SAQLI), the Korean version of the International Index of Erectile Function (KIIEF-5), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). ED and OSA were defined as a KIIEF-5 < 21 and a respiratory disturbance index (RDI) ≥ 5, respectively. Depressive symptoms were defined as a BDI ≥ 10. RESULTS The frequency of ED did not differ significantly according to OSA severity. In Spearman's correlation analysis, the BDI and the ESS were inversely correlated with the KIIEF-5, whereas the SAQLI was positively correlated with the KIIEF-5. The RDI and the lowest oxygen saturation (SaO2 ) did not exhibit significant correlations with the KIIEF-5. A multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for possible confounding factors showed that ED was independently associated with the SAQLI and depressive symptoms, but there was no significant association of ED with either the RDI or the lowest SaO2 . CONCLUSIONS The present study demonstrated that depressive symptoms and a low quality of life specific to sleep apnea are independent risk factors for ED in OSA patients.
Association between the effacing (eae) gene and the Shiga-like toxin-encoding genes in Escherichia coli isolates from cattle.

Two hundred ninety-six Escherichia coli isolates from feces or intestines of calves with diarrhea were hybridized with 7 gene probes. One probe (the eae probe) was derived from the eae gene coding for a protein involved in the effacement of the enterocyte microvilli by the group of bacteria called attaching and effacing E coli (AEEC), and 2 probes were derived from genes coding for the Shiga-like toxins (SLT) 1 and 2 produced by the verocytotoxic E coli (VTEC). The other 4 probes were derived from DNA sequences associated with the adhesive properties of enteroadherent E coli (EAEC) to cultured cells (the EAF probe for the localized adherence pattern, probes F1845 and AIDA-1 for the diffuse adherence pattern, and the Agg probe for the aggregative adherence pattern). Hybridization results for the eae probe were in agreement, for all but 1 of the 8 isolates, with previously published phenotypic results of microvilli effacement. The latter was previously reported as effacing the microvilli of calf enterocytes, but was eae probe-negative. Two classes of isolates hybridized with the eae probe. Members of a first class (60 isolates) additionally produced a positive signal with 1 or both of the SLT probes (VTEC-AEEC isolates). Isolates hybridizing with the eae and the SLT1 probes were the most frequent: 56 isolates (ie, 93% of all VTEC-AEEC). Members of the second class (10 isolates) failed to hybridize with either SLT probe (non-VTEC-AEEC isolates). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
'Best research practice': in pursuit of methodological rigour.

RATIONALE This paper is based on the rationale that misuse of methodological notions in research publications lays research studies open to criticism and dismissal. AIM In search of 'best research practice', this paper aims to examine the different qualities of four major qualitative methodologies: ethnography, descriptive phenomenology, interpretative phenomenology/hermeneutics and critical social theory. DESIGN The study presents a critical overview of methodological decision-making, illustrating the sorts of issues researchers must consider in order to justify to the readership and to themselves the employment of a particular methodology. This is presented alongside a general overview of qualitative research and a précis of each of the major qualitative methodologies. The paper describes the methodologies, salient features, and examines methodological similarities and differences. The paper concludes by examining the need for methodological rigour within the framework of the National Health Service (NHS) Executive's drive for evidence-based practice in health care. RECOMMENDATIONS It is hoped that the paper will stimulate a deeper exploration of methodological rigour in future research publications.
Dielectric Charge Tailoring in PECVD SiO${}_x$/SiN ${}_x$ Stacks and Application at the Rear of Al Local Back Surface Field Si Wafer Solar Cells

State-of-the-art surface passivation results are obtained on undiffused p-type commercial-grade Czochralski Si wafers with effective surface recombination velocity S<sub>eff</sub> values of ~8 cm/s and implied open-circuit voltage iV<sub>oc</sub> values of up to 715 mV with an industrially fired dielectric stack of silicon oxide and silicon nitride (SiO<sub>x</sub>/SiN<sub>x</sub>) deposited in an industrial inline plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition reactor. We are able to controllably vary the total positive charge density Q<sub>total</sub> in the stack by more than one order of magnitude (10<sup>11</sup>-10<sup>12</sup> cm<sup>-2</sup>) with no impact on midgap interface state density D<sub>it,m idgap</sub> (5 × 10<sup>11</sup> eV<sup>-1</sup>· cm<sup>-2</sup>) by altering the deposition temperature of the SiO<sub>x</sub> layer in the stack. We show experimentally that, for inversion conditions, S<sub>eff</sub> scales with the inverse square of the charge density 1/Q<sup>2</sup><sub>total</sub>, which is in good agreement with theory. Based on the measured injection-level-dependent minority carrier lifetimes and the total positive charge densities, it is shown that films with higher positive charge density have higher 1-sun Voc and fill factor (FF) potential. Large-area alloyed aluminum local back surface field solar cells confirmed this by showing higher conversion efficiency by 0.17% absolute due to improved cell V<sub>oc</sub> and FF of the solar cells featuring a SiO<sub>x</sub>/SiN<sub>x</sub> stack with a higher Q<sub>total</sub>.
Randomized clinical trial of root-end resection followed by root-end filling with mineral trioxide aggregate or smoothing of the orthograde gutta-percha root filling--1-year follow-up.

AIM To compare healing after root-end resection with a root-end filling of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) or smoothing of the orthograde gutta-percha (GP) root filling. METHODOLOGY Forty-four patients (consisting of 52 teeth with periapical infection), average age of 54.6 years (range 30-77) participated in a randomized clinical trial (RCT) comparing the MTA and GP treatment methods. Radiographs produced 1-week and 12 months post-operatively were compared after blinding for treatment method, and healing was assessed as complete, incomplete, uncertain, or unsatisfactory. RESULTS Six teeth were not available for the 12-month follow-up: three teeth (GP) had been re-operated because of pain and two teeth (one GP, one MTA) had been extracted because of root fracture (these five teeth were classified as failures). One patient (GP) was not available for recall. In the GP group, seven teeth (28%) showed complete healing, six teeth (24%) incomplete healing, six teeth (24%) uncertain healing and two teeth (8%) unsatisfactory healing after 1 year. In the MTA group, 22 teeth (85%) showed complete healing, three teeth (12%) incomplete healing, and none were scored as uncertain or unsatisfactory healing after 1 year. The difference in healing between the GP and the MTA groups was significant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The results from this RCT emphasize the importance of placing a root-end filling after root-end resection. Teeth treated with MTA had significantly better healing (96%) than teeth treated by smoothing of the orthograde GP root filling only (52%).
Prices, Locations and Welfare When an Online Retailer Competes with Heterogeneous Brick‐And‐Mortar Retailers

This study proposes a novel spatial model in which an online retailer competes with heterogeneous brick-and-mortar retailers. Consumers are assumed to be non-uniformly distributed along an urban-rural line, and online transactions provide savings in transportation costs at the expense of distaste costs. Among other results, we show that the surviving brick-and-mortar retailers eventually move toward densely populated (urban) areas after the entry of the online retailer. Consumer welfare, the policy of not taxing online business, and the socially optimal number of retailers are also analyzed.
Bioreactor cultivation conditions modulate the composition and mechanical properties of tissue‐engineered cartilage

Cartilaginous constructs have been grown in vitro with use of isolated cells, biodegradable polymer scaffolds, and bioreactors. In the present work, the relationships between the composition and mechanical properties of engineered cartilage constructs were studied by culturing bovine calf articular chondrocytes on fibrous polyglycolic acid scaffolds (5 mm in diameter, 2‐mm thick, and 97% porous) in three different environments: static flasks, mixed flasks, and rotating vessels. After 6 weeks of cultivation, the composition, morphology, and mechanical function of the constructs in radially confined static and dynamic compression all depended on the conditions of in vitro cultivation. Static culture yielded small and fragile constructs, while turbulent flow in mixed flasks yielded constructs with fibrous outer capsules; both environments resulted in constructs with poor mechanical properties. The constructs that were cultured freely suspended in a dynamic laminar flow field in rotating vessels were the largest, contained continuous cartilage‐like extracellular matrices with the highest fractions of glycosaminoglycan and collagen, and had the best mechanical properties. The equilibrium modulus, hydraulic permeability, dynamic stiffness, and streaming potential correlated with the wet‐weight fractions of glycosaminoglycan, collagen, and water. These findings suggest that the hydrodynamic conditions in tissue‐culture bioreactors can modulate the composition, morphology, mechanical properties, and electromechanical function of engineered cartilage.
Relationship between peripheral and central venous pressures in different patient positions, catheter sizes, and insertion sites.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between peripheral and central venous pressures in different patient positions (supine, prone, lithotomy, Trendelenburg, and Fowler), different catheter diameters (18 G and 20 G), and catheterization sites (dorsal hand and forearm) during surgical procedures. DESIGN Prospective clinical study. SETTINGS University hospital. PARTICIPANTS Five hundred adult patients. INTERVENTIONS Peripheral over-the-needle intravenous catheters were placed in the dorsal hand or forearm. Central venous catheters were inserted via the internal jugular or subclavian vein after induction of anesthesia. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Simultaneous measurements of central and peripheral venous pressures were made during stable conditions at random time points in surgery; 1953 paired measurements were performed. Mean central venous pressure was 11 +/- 3.7 mmHg and peripheral venous pressure was 13 +/- 4 mmHg (p = 0.0001). The overall correlation between central venous and peripheral venous pressures was found to be statistically significant (r = 0.89, r(2) = 0.8, p = 0.0001). Mean difference between peripheral and central venous pressure was 2 +/- 1.8 mmHg. Ninety-five percent limits of agreement were 5.6 to -1.6 mmHg. CONCLUSION It has been assumed that replacing central venous pressure by peripheral venous pressure would cause problems in clinical interpretation. If the validity of this data is confirmed by further studies, the authors suggest that central venous pressure could be estimated by using regression equations to compare the 2 methods.
Metalloproteinases in Corneal Diseases: Degradation and Processing

Abstract: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent endopeptidases with the potential to degrade all types of extracellular matrix. The ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase) family of peptidases was recently identified as cleaving the extracellular domain of transmembrane proteins. This was termed ectodomain shedding. We investigated the MMP expression in patients with corneal diseases and the potential role of ADAMs in corneal pathophysiology. We detected upregulation of the active form of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the tear fluid from patients with corneal melting or recurrent corneal erosion. Using human corneal epithelial cells, we observed ADAM17-dependent ectodomain shedding of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 and soluble interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor (sIL-6R). The production of sIL-6R was also induced by messenger RNA splicing in the human corneal epithelial cells. IL-6/sIL-6R-induced signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 phosphorylation was observed in cultured human corneal fibroblasts, suggesting that IL-6 trans-signaling induced inflammatory cellular signaling in the human corneal fibroblasts. We demonstrated that MMPs are significantly upregulated in collagen-destructive disorders of the cornea. Additionally, we observed that ectodomain shedding by ADAMs in corneal epithelial cells mediated the production of soluble cytokine receptors. Trans-signaling of IL-6 can induce an inflammatory response in corneal stroma, indicating the significance of IL-6 trans-signaling in ocular surface inflammation. Thus, MMPs and ADAMs play an important role in the pathophysiology of corneal diseases.
Market Orientation in Australian SME’s: A Size Based Comparison

Abstract Market orientation theory highlights the role of information acquisition, dissemination and utilisation in meeting customer needs. Prior studies have examined the relationship between market orientation and performance as well as other consequences and requirements. Market orientation activities of a sample of Australian firms are examined to observe whether there are size-related differences. The consistency of market orientation between firms in different size groups and the relationship to performance differences is examined. The survey instrument is based on a conceptualisation of market orientation that includes intelligence gathering, dissemination and responsiveness. Businesses located in the Newcastle and Lower Hunter Region of Australia were surveyed, resulting in responses from 249 firms that were allocated to two size groups based on a size-based definition of small business. A positive relationship between market orientation, firm performance and esprit de corps in both the small and larger firms was found. There was no significant difference in the levels of the three individual components of market orientation between the two groups. Small and larger firms gathered intelligence, disseminated it and responded similarly. Sensitivity tests confirmed the results. Hypotheses proposing positive consequences for market oriented businesses were supported, regardless of firm size. Further analysis of the survey data will examine whether other firm demographics, such as line of business, influence market orientation and performance.
Reduction of quantity smoked predicts future cessation among older smokers.

AIM To examine whether smokers who reduce their quantity of cigarettes smoked between two periods are more or less likely to quit subsequently. STUDY DESIGN Data come from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative survey of older Americans aged 51-61 in 1991 followed every 2 years from 1992 to 1998. The 2064 participants smoking at baseline and the first follow-up comprise the main sample. MEASUREMENTS Smoking cessation by 1996 is examined as the primary outcome. A secondary outcome is relapse by 1998. Spontaneous changes in smoking quantity between the first two waves make up the key predictor variables. Control variables include gender, age, education, race, marital status, alcohol use, psychiatric problems, acute or chronic health problems and smoking quantity. FINDINGS Large (over 50%) and even moderate (25-50%) reductions in quantity smoked between 1992 and 1994 predict prospectively increased likelihood of cessation in 1996 compared to no change in quantity (OR 2.96, P<0.001 and OR 1.61, P<0.01, respectively). Additionally, those who reduced and then quit were somewhat less likely to relapse by 1998 than those who did not reduce in the 2 years prior to quitting. CONCLUSIONS Reducing successfully the quantity of cigarettes smoked appears to have a beneficial effect on future cessation likelihood, even after controlling for initial smoking level and other variables known to impact smoking cessation. These results indicate that the harm reduction strategy of reduced smoking warrants further study.