Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Information Content of Guidance and Earnings

I compare the information content of quarterly earnings guidance and quarterly earnings by examining their associations with current and future stock returns when the two signals are bundled at earnings announcements. At the bundled announcement, I find a significantly stronger association between announcement returns and guidance news. From the day after the bundled announcement through the next earnings announcement, both signals generate abnormal return drifts of about 200 basis points. However, the timing of the post-announcement returns differs considerably. For guidance, about 50% of the post-announcement drift occurs at the next earnings announcement. In contrast, for earnings, about 20% of the preceding drift reverses at the next earnings announcement. Investor ignorance of the drift following guidance news coupled with a fixation on post-earnings announcement drift potentially explains this surprising difference in the timing of the post-announcement returns. Overall, this study indicates that bundled quarterly earnings guidance contains more information than quarterly earnings and that investors incorrectly overweight the earnings news and underweight the guidance news during the post-announcement period until the next earnings announcement.
Effects of snuff on the oral health status of adolescent males: a comparative study.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of snuff on the oral health status of adolescent males. MATERIALS AND METHODS The participants consisted of 80 adolescent males between 16-25 years, 40 snuff users and 40 non-users. The snuff users and non-users were matched with reference to their age. Data were collected using a questionnaire containing questions on general and oral health, daily oral hygiene and tobacco habits. The clinical examination was carried out in a dental office by two experienced dental hygienists. Snuff lesions were clinically classified on a four-point scale and documented on colour slides. The examination also assessed the number of teeth, restored tooth surfaces, plaque index and gingival index, probing pocket depth and gingival recessions. RESULTS Out of 40 snuff users, 35 showed snuff incluced lesions. The clinical diagnosis of snuff users' mucosa showed snuff lesions of different severity clinically classified as degree 1, 2 and 3. When explaining snuff lesions of degree 2 and 3, hours of daily snuff use and package form (portion-bag snuff versus loose snuff) was statistically significant. There were no statistical differences between snuff users and non-users regarding restored tooth surfaces, presence of plaque, gingival inflammation and probing pocket depth. Seventeen percent of the cases showed loss of periodontal attachment as gingival recessions. CONCLUSION In spite of mucosal lesions caused by snuff there were no statistical differences in prevalence in plaque and gingivitis between snuff users and non-users. However, some cases showed loss of periodontal attachment as gingival recessions.
Generation, Transmission and Application of Orbital Angular Momentum in Optical Fiber: A Review

Optical orbital angular momentum (OAM) has become a hot research topic because of its unique properties due to its spiral distribution of phases. The production and transmission of OAM has also become a necessary condition for effective use of OAM. As an optical waveguide with good propagation properties, optical fibers are used in optical systems supporting OAM. This paper introduces the OAM generation and transmission system based on fiber, summarizes the current photonic crystal fiber, ring core fiber, fiber grating and other all-fiber systems that can support OAM modes, and explains some experimental principles. Finally, an outlook on OAM generation or transmission devices for all-fiber systems is presented, providing a useful reference for future related research.
β2‐Adrenergic stimulation enhances Ca2+ release and contractile properties of skeletal muscles, and counteracts exercise‐induced reductions in Na+–K+‐ATPase Vmax in trained men

From animal models, it is well established that β2‐adrenergic stimulation increases contractile force, rates of Ca2+ release and uptake from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, and Na+–K+‐ATPase activity of skeletal muscles. However, these effects are unexplored in humans. Here we report that β2‐adrenergic stimulation with the high dose selective β2‐adrenoceptor agonist terbutaline elicits positive inotropic and lusitropic effects on non‐fatigued m. quadriceps that are associated with enhanced rates of Ca2+ release and uptake from the sarcoplasmic reticulum in trained men. However, we also observed that the positive inotropic and lusitropic effects of β2‐adrenergic stimulation on m. quadriceps were blunted when muscle fatigue developed. Furthermore, we show that β2‐adrenergic stimulation counteracts exercise‐induced reductions in Na+–K+‐ATPase Vmax (maximum rate of activity) and elevates glycolytic activity during high intensity exercise. These findings are important for our understanding of the role of β2‐adreceptor activation in regulation of ion handling and contractile properties of non‐fatigued and fatigued skeletal muscles in humans.
Hiring and Separation Rates Before and after the Arab Spring in the Tunisian Labour Market

We seek to explore the hiring and separation rates in Tunisia before and after the Arab Spring based on quarterly business level data for 503 firms over the span of January 2007 to December 2012. Furthermore, we examine whether employers are willing to dismiss older workers to trigger an effective increase in mobility that will open new opportunities for the youth community. We build our analysis upon six main empirical models to study employment decisions reflected by major indicators such as the number of hiring, number of separations, total employment effects, male-female ratio, age cohorts, labour mobility and net employment. The results show that the Arab Spring has created structural unemployment trends. In addition, we note that the 2008 global turmoil has fostered the firing level of employment. Our conclusions also indicate that the response of Tunisia's government to high unemployment rates caused by the financial meltdown in 2008 and the events in 2011 was not sufficient to remove the attached lingering effects that still distress the country's labour market. In addition, our findings emphasize the significant challenges faced by Tunisian youth that could be mitigated by efficient policy actions to incentivize training and development geared towards the private sector.
Recognition of RhoA by Clostridium botulinum C3 Exoenzyme*

The C3-like ADP-ribosyltransferases exhibit a very confined substrate specificity compared with other Rho-modifying bacterial toxins; they selectively modify the RhoA, -B, and -C isoforms but not other members of the Rho or Ras subfamilies. In this study, the amino acid residues involved in the RhoA substrate recognition by C3 from Clostridium botulinum are identified by applying mutational analyses of the nonsubstrate Rac. First, the minimum domain responsible for the recognition by C3 was identified as the N-terminal 90 residues. Second, the combination of the N-terminal basic amino acids (RhoArg5-Lys6), the acid residues RhoGlu47 andRhoGlu54 only slightly increases ADP-ribosylation but fully restores the binding of the respective mutant Rac to C3. Third, the residues RhoGlu40and RhoVal43 also participate in binding to C3 but they are mainly involved in the correct formation of the ternary complex between Rho, C3, and NAD+. Thus, these six residues (Arg5, Lys6, Glu40, Val43, Glu47, and Glu54) distributed over the N-terminal part of Rho are involved in the correct binding of Rho to C3. Mutant Rac harboring these residues shows a kinetic property with regard to ADP-ribosylation, which is identical with that of RhoA. Differences in the conformation of Rho given by the nucleotide occupancy have only minor effects on ADP-ribosylation.
Altered Functional Connectivity of the Insula and Nucleus Accumbens in Internet Gaming Disorder: A Resting State fMRI Study

Aims: A possible addiction mechanism has been represented by altered functional connectivity (FC) in the resting state. The aim of this study was to evaluate the FCs of the insula and nucleus accumbens among subjects with Internet gaming disorder (IGD). Methods: We recruited 30 males with IGD and 30 controls and evaluated their FC using functional magnetic imaging scanning under resting, a state with relaxation, closed eyes, with inducement to think of nothing systematically, become motionless, and instructed not to fall asleep. Results: Subjects with IGD had a lower FC with the left insula over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and orbital frontal lobe and a higher FC with the insula with the contralateral insula than controls. The inter-hemispheric insula connectivity positively correlated with impulsivity. Further, they had lower FC with the left nucleus accumbens over the left DLPFC and with the right nucleus accumbens over the left DLPFC, and insula and a higher FC with that over the right precuneus. Conclusion: The elevated inter-hemispheric insula FC is found to be associated with impulsivity and might explain why it is involved in IGD. The attenuated frontostriatal suggests that the emotion-driven gaming urge through nucleus accumbens could not be well regulated by the frontal lobe of subjects with IGD.
Efficacy of the theory of communication competence and personality traits in predicting tour guides’ income

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to explain the extent to which communication competencies and personality types influence tour guides’ performances, as measured by two livelihood indicators: earned tips and overall income. Data were collected from a sample of 387 professional tour guides via self-report survey. The study results suggest that some verbal and non-verbal communication competencies play a role in predicting tips earned. Moreover, the study has found that three of the Big Five personality traits are useful predictors of tips and general income. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed within the realm of Theory of Communication Competence and Big Five Personality Traits.
Molecular epidemiology of enterovirus 71 infection in the Western Pacific Region

Abstract Background : Recently, there have been large outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) mainly caused by enterovirus 71 (EV71) associated with severe neurological diseases in the Western Pacific Region (WPR). To monitor the realtime trend of EV71 transmission throughout the WPR, the authors conducted a molecular epidemiological analysis of EV71 infection.
Predicting introductory programming performance: A multi-institutional multivariate study

A model for predicting student performance on introductory programming modules is presented. The model uses attributes identified in a study carried out at four third-level institutions in the Republic of Ireland. Four instruments were used to collect the data and over 25 attributes were examined. A data reduction technique was applied and a logistic regression model using 10-fold stratified cross validation was developed. The model used three attributes: Leaving Certificate Mathematics result (final mathematics examination at second level), number of hours playing computer games while taking the module and programming self-esteem. Prediction success was significant with 80% of students correctly classified. The model also works well on a per-institution level. A discussion on the implications of the model is provided and future work is outlined.
A fast-starting mechanical fish that accelerates at 40 m s−2

We have built a simple mechanical system to emulate the fast-start performance of fish. The system consists of a thin metal beam covered by a urethane rubber, the fish body and an appropriately shaped tail. The body form of the mechanical fish was modeled after a pike species and selected because it is a widely-studied fast-start specialist. The mechanical fish was held in curvature and hung in water by two restraining lines, which were simultaneously released by a pneumatic cutting mechanism. The potential energy in the beam was transferred into the fluid, thereby accelerating the fish. We measured the resulting acceleration, and calculated the efficiency of propulsion for the mechanical fish model, defined as the ratio of the final kinetic energy of the fish and the initially stored potential energy in the body beam. We also ran a series of flow visualization tests to observe the resulting flow patterns. The maximum start-up acceleration was measured to be around 40 m s−2, with the maximum final velocity around 1.2 m s−1. The form of the measured acceleration signal as function of time is quite similar to that of type I fast-start motions studied by Harper and Blake (1991 J. Exp. Biol. 155 175–92). The hydrodynamic efficiency of the fish was found to be around 10%. Flow visualization of the mechanical fast-start wake was also analyzed, showing that the acceleration peaks are associated with the shedding of two vortex rings in near-lateral directions.
Brazil Patient Knowledge Questionnaire (PKQ) and evaluation of disease-specific knowledge in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To create a Brazilian version of the Patient Knowledge Questionnaire--PKQ, an instrument for measuring the knowledge of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as regards their disease, and through the use of this instrument, also measure the knowledge of RA patients from reference hospitals in the city of São Paulo. METHODS Two teachers of English translated the PKQ into Portuguese in order to obtain a single version, which was then translated back into English to evaluate its equivalence to the original version (back translation). The final version in Portuguese was applied to 20 patients with RA for adaptation to cultural issues, and questions not understood by 20% or more patients were subsequently modified. Inter- and intraobserver reliability and the constructive validity of the PKQ were tested. The questionnaire was then applied to 100 RA patients, selected in four outpatient clinics at reference hospitals in the city of São Paulo. RESULTS Three of the PKQ questions were modified to adapt to cultural issues. Intraclass correlation coefficients used for the reliability and validity of the PKQ were between were between 0.62 and 0.94, therefore, statistically significant (p< 0.05). The mean PKQ score was 12.96 and the mean test application time was 10.3 minutes, for the 100 patients assessed. The lowest scores were observed in the domains of medications and joint protection/energy conservation. PKQ scores showed a positive correlation with the level of education (r=0.40) and a negative correlation with the patients' age (r= -0.32) and with HAQ (r= -0.28). CONCLUSION The Brazilian version of the PKQ that was created and proved to be a reliable and valid instrument. Patients' knowledge of RA is poor, particularly in the domains regarding medications and joint protection/energy conservation.
Matrix Stiffness Corresponding to Strictured Bowel Induces a Fibrogenic Response in Human Colonic Fibroblasts

Background:Crohn's disease is characterized by repeated cycles of inflammation and mucosal healing which ultimately progress to intestinal fibrosis. This inexorable progression toward fibrosis suggests that fibrosis becomes inflammation-independent and auto-propagative. We hypothesized that matrix stiffness regulates this auto-propagation of intestinal fibrosis. Methods:The stiffness of fresh ex vivo samples from normal human small intestine, Crohn's disease strictures, and the unaffected margin were measured with a microelastometer. Normal human colonic fibroblasts were cultured on physiologically normal or pathologically stiff matrices corresponding to the physiological stiffness of normal or fibrotic bowel. Cellular response was assayed for changes in cell morphology, &agr;-smooth muscle actin staining, and gene expression. Results:Microelastometer measurements revealed a significant increase in colonic tissue stiffness between normal human colon and Crohn’s strictures and between the stricture and adjacent tissue margin. In Ccd-18co cells grown on stiff matrices corresponding to Crohn’s strictures, cellular proliferation increased. Pathologic stiffness induced a marked change in cell morphology and increased &agr;-smooth muscle actin protein expression. Growth on a stiff matrix induced fibrogenic gene expression, decreased matrix metalloproteinase, and proinflammatory gene expression and was associated with nuclear localization of the transcriptional cofactor MRTF-A. Conclusions:Matrix stiffness, representative of the pathologic stiffness of Crohn’s strictures, activates human colonic fibroblasts to a fibrogenic phenotype. Matrix stiffness affects multiple pathways, suggesting that the mechanical properties of the cellular environment are critical to fibroblast function and may contribute to auto-propagation of intestinal fibrosis in the absence of inflammation, thereby contributing to the intractable intestinal fibrosis characteristic of Crohn’s disease.
User association and the alignment-throughput tradeoff in millimeter wave networks

Millimeter wave (mmWave) communication is a promising candidate for future extremely high data rate, wireless networks. The main challenges of mmWave communications are deafness (misalignment between the beams of the transmitter and receiver) and blockage (severe attenuation due to obstacles). Due to deafness, prior to link establishment between a client and its access point, a time consuming alignment/beam training procedure is necessary, whose complexity depends on the operating beamwidth. Addressing blockage may require a reassociation to non-blocked access points, which in turn imposes additional alignment overhead. This paper introduces a unifying framework to maximize network throughput considering both deafness and blockage. A distributed auction-based solution is proposed, where the clients and access points act asynchronously to achieve optimal association along with the optimal operating beamwidth. It is shown that the proposed algorithm provably converges to a solution that maximizes the aggregate network utility within a desired bound. Convergence time and performance bounds are derived in closed-forms. Numerical results confirm superior throughput performance of the proposed solution compared to existing approaches, and highlight the existence of a tradeoff between alignment overhead and achievable throughput that affects the optimal association.
The application profiles and development characteristics of library Open Source Software projects

Purpose – Little is known as to the breadth and diversity of Open Source Software (OSS) applications for libraries and the development characteristics that influence the sustainability and success of projects creating them. The purpose of this paper is to address this gap by analyzing a large sample of library OSS projects. Design/methodology/approach – A total of 594 library OSS projects (469 from SourceForge and 125 from Foss4lib) are classified by type and further differentiated and assessed across a number of criteria including, but not limited to, sponsorship status, license type, and development status. Findings – While various types of library OSS applications were found to be under development and in use, the results show that there has been a steady decrease in the number of projects initiated since 2009. Although sponsorship was significantly positively associated with several indicators of OSS project success, the proportion of sponsored projects was relatively small compared to the proportions.
Institutional change in the long shadow of elites; Essays on Institutions, Human Capital and Ethnicity in developing countries

this paper presents a simple framework of endogenous institutions linking property rights to the distribution of human capital between political and economic elite groups. A non-predatory state emerges, attracting investment in to the formal sector, if the human capital share of the political elites is high, but not too high. If education enhances predatory capacity in addition to productive potential, the political elites should offer stronger institutional concessions to attract investment as their share of human capital increases. given a balanced distribution of human capital among the elites, property rights could be instituted partially without reforming political institutions. brain drain can undermine the transition to stable property rights even when the political elites are well-educated. comparative narratives from malaysia and Zimbabwe are presented to motivate the theoretical discussion.
Disinfection of Wastewater Using a 20‐kHz Ultrasound Unit

The present study explored the application of a 20‐kHz ultrasound unit for the disinfection of domestic wastewater. Experiments were conducted in batch with an ultrasound probe. The disinfection efficiency of fecal coliform increased with ultrasound power input from 0.003 log kill/min at 70 W/L to 1.8 log kill/min at 1250 W/L. Disinfection data are well‐described by the Chick–Watson disinfection model (coefficient of dilution, n = 2.0) using ultrasound power in place of chemical concentration. Water quality did not affect disinfection efficiency significantly. Temperature increases experienced with ultrasonic treatment were significant. Attempts to control the temperature resulted in a marked decrease in disinfection efficiency. Experiments devised to quantify the role of thermal mechanisms revealed that of the total kill produced by ultrasound approximately 52% was attributed to heat, 36% to mechanical stresses associated with ultrasonically induced cavitation, and 12% to uncharacterized synergistic effects. Successful scale‐up was demonstrated using a 9.3‐L pilot‐scale ultrasound unit, operated under flow‐through conditions.
Broadband Circularly Polarized Crossed Bowtie Dipole Antenna Loaded With Parasitic Elements

An extremely broadband circularly polarized (CP) antenna is presented. The proposed antenna consists of a crossed bowtie dipole loaded with four unequal parasitic cross slots, four parasitic bowtie patches, and four parasitic rectangular strips. The cross slots can generate a CP mode due to the sequential phases of the crossed bowtie dipole. The parasitic bowtie patches are gap-coupled with two arms of the crossed bowtie dipole, and they are sequentially rotated along diagonals to generate an additional CP mode. The parasitic strips also generate one CP mode due to the sequentially rotated configuration parallel to the crossed bowtie dipole. By properly combining with two CP modes of the crossed bowtie dipole, broadband CP operation is achieved. The experimental and simulated results are in agreement, and the measured results show that the proposed antenna exhibits a very wide impedance bandwidth of 93.1% (2.21–6.06 GHz) and an excellent axial-ratio bandwidth of 90.9% (2.2–6.4 GHz). In addition, the proposed antenna produces a right-hand circular polarization with a peak gain of 8.6 dBi.