Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysts’ Target Prices and Stock Recommendations

In this study, I propose a simple framework to examine the link between analysts’ target prices and their stock recommendations. I hypothesize that the favorableness of stock recommendations is positively associated with the deviation of the ratio of target price to price from the benchmark return. I employ three widely used models to proxy for the benchmark return: the CAPM, Fama and French (1993) 3-Factor Model and Carhart (1997) 4-Factor Model. I find results consistent with my hypothesis. Both contingency table and regression analysis support the prediction that analysts issue more favorable recommendations to stocks with a higher difference between the ratio of target price to price and the benchmark return. I further investigate whether this positive association is due to analysts’ perception about risk or mispricing. I use firm characteristics as the explanatory variables to examine how analysts incorporate them into their outputs. I find evidence that target prices are associated with growth variables the same way as recommendations are. However, I am not able to completely rule out the risk interpretation. Therefore, the mechanism underlying the link between analysts’ target prices and stock recommendations is not conclusive.
Tacrine-NO donor and tacrine-ferulic acid hybrid molecules as new anti-Alzheimer agents: hepatotoxicity and influence on the cytochrome P450 system in comparison to tacrine

Abstract Tacrine (CAS 321-64-2) is a reversible acetylcholine esterase inhibitor that, despite exerting beneficial effects on Alzheimer’s disease (AD), displays marked hepatotoxicity. Searching for safer drugs and taking into account the multi-patho-genesis of AD, two tacrine-NO donor hybrid molecules (FL16, FL38) as well as a tacrine-ferulic acid hybrid (FL67) were synthesized. NO donors coupled to the tacrine moiety may exert an additional beneficial effect on AD via an increased blood supply to the brain and by reducing inflammation. Ferulic acid is an antioxidant. To investigate the hepatotoxicity and effects on the cytochrome P450 (CYP) system of the liver, female rats were treated with the highest tolerated dose of tacrine or equimolar doses of the novel compounds 24 or 36 h, respectively, before sacrifice. Tacrine caused pericentral necrosis and fatty degeneration of the hepato-cytes, loss of liver glycogen and (indicating oxidative stress) induction of heme oxygenase (HO)-l. No histopathological changes were observed with the hybrids, but a glycogen deficit and an elevation of HO-1 was noticed after FL38 or FL67 treatment. Both tacrine and the hybrids, but mainly FL38 and FL67, caused an induction of CYP1A1, 2B1 and 3A2 expression. CYP activity was noticeably increased after treatment with FL38 and FL67 only. Thus, since it displays much less hepatotoxicity and interaction potential at the CYP system than tacrine and the other hybrids, FL16 is a good candidate for further investigations.
Interfacial capillary – gravity waves due to a fundamental singularity in a system of two semi-infinite fluids

The interfacial capillary–gravity waves due to a transient fundamental singularity immersed in a system of two semi-infinite immiscible fluids of different densities are investigated analytically for twoand threedimensional cases. The two-fluid system, which consists of an inviscid fluid overlying a viscous fluid, is assumed to be incompressible and initially quiescent. The two fluids are each homogeneous, and separated by a sharp and stable interface. The Laplace equation is taken as the governing equation for the inviscid flow, while the linearized unsteady Navier–Stokes equations are used for the viscous flow. With surface tension taken into consideration, the kinematic and dynamic conditions on the interface are linearized for small-amplitude waves. The singularity is modeled as a simple mass source when immersed in the inviscid fluid above the interface, or as a vertical point force when immersed in the viscous fluid beneath the interface. Based on the integral solutions for the interfacial waves, the asymptotic wave profiles are derived for large times with a fixed distance-to-time ratio by means of the generalized method of stationary phase. It is found that there exists a minimum group velocity, and the wave system observed will depend on the moving speed of the observer. Two schemes of expansion of the phase function are proposed for the two cases when the moving speed of an observer is larger than, or close to the minimum group velocity. Explicit analytical solutions are presented for the long gravity-dominant and the short capillary-dominant wave systems, incorporating the effects of density ratio, surface tension, viscosity and immersion depth of the singularity.
Unsymmetrically substituted furoxans. XVII. Structural investigations in benzenesulfonylfuroxan derivatives and related compounds

The reaction of bis(benzenesulfonyl)furoxaan 1 with alcohols and thioalcohols in basic medium affords a number of benzenesulfonylfuroxans alkoxy and thioalkoxy substituted, an interesting class of NO-donors. For these derivatives a paramount problem is to locate the position (3- or 4-) of the substituent to the furoxan ring. In this paper we assign the structure to a number of these derivatives on the basis of both chemical and NMR evidence. In particular, 13 C NMR substituent constants (A ik ) were obtained by NMR study of suitable furoxan models. By assuming a complete additivity of the substituent effects at the furoxan ring A ik values were used for structural determination
Human Limitations to Introduction of Smart Cities: Comparative Analysis From Two CEE Cities

Abstract Smart cities are a modern administrative/ developmental concept that tries to combine the development of urban areas with a higher level of citizens’ participation. However, there is a lack of understanding of the concept’s potential, due possibly to an unwillingness to accept a new form of relationship with the citizens. In this article, the willingness to introduce the elements of smart cities into two Central and Eastern European cities is tested. The results show that people are reluctant to use technology above the level of their needs and show little interest in participating in matters of governance, which prevents smart cities from developing in reality.
Atmospheric CO2 response to volcanic eruptions: The role of ENSO, season, and variability

Tropical explosive volcanism is one of the most important natural factors that significantly impact the climate system and the carbon cycle on annual to multi‐decadal time scales. The three largest explosive eruptions in the last 50 years—Agung, El Chichón, and Pinatubo—occurred in spring/summer in conjunction with El Niño events and left distinct negative signals in the observational temperature and CO2 records. However, confounding factors such as seasonal variability and El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) may obscure the forcing‐response relationship. We determine for the first time the extent to which initial conditions, i.e., season and phase of the ENSO, and internal variability influence the coupled climate and carbon cycle response to volcanic forcing and how this affects estimates of the terrestrial and oceanic carbon sinks. Ensemble simulations with the Earth System Model (Climate System Model 1.4‐carbon) predict that the atmospheric CO2 response is ˜60% larger when a volcanic eruption occurs during El Niño and in winter than during La Niña conditions. Our simulations suggest that the Pinatubo eruption contributed 11 ± 6% to the 25 Pg terrestrial carbon sink inferred over the decade 1990–1999 and −2 ± 1% to the 22 Pg oceanic carbon sink. In contrast to recent claims, trends in the airborne fraction of anthropogenic carbon cannot be detected when accounting for the decadal‐scale influence of explosive volcanism and related uncertainties. Our results highlight the importance of considering the role of natural variability in the carbon cycle for interpretation of observations and for data‐model intercomparison.
Detection of Very High Energy Radiation from the BL Lacertae Object PG 1553+113 with the MAGIC Telescope

In 2005 and 2006, the MAGIC telescope observed very high energy gamma-ray emission from the distant BL Lac object PG 1553+113. The overall significance of the signal was 8.8 σ for 18.8 hr of observation time. The light curve shows no significant flux variations on a daily timescale; the flux level during 2005 was, however, significantly higher compared to 2006. The differential energy spectrum between ~90 and 500 GeV is well described by a power law with photon index Γ = 4.2 ± 0.3. The combined 2005 and 2006 energy spectrum provides an upper limit of z = 0.74 on the redshift of the object.
Sea surface temperature anomalies in the Gulf of California

Se utilizan imágenes infrarrojas de satélite de enero de 1984 a diciembre de 2000 para describir las anomalías de temperarura superficial del mar (TSM) en el Golfo de California. Las anomalías positivas predominantes son debidas a El Niño, especialmente el de 1997-1998, con desviaciones de más de 3°C por encima de la climatología estacional. La anomalía negativa más grande ( ~ -4°C) está asociada a La Niña de 1988-1989. El Niño 1986-1987 tuvo el efecto más débil, con anomalías < 2°C. Las anomalías de TSM tienden a ocurrir primero, y a ser las más fuertes, en la región justo al sur del archipiélago que se encuentra en la parte media del golfo; se propone que esto puede ser debido a la presencia de fuertes frentes de TSM en esa área. Algunas de las anomalías parecen estar conectadas a anomalías del mismo signo en la Alberca Cálida del Hemisferio Occidental en el Pacífico oriental. Procesos locales pueden ser la causa de algunas anomalías, especialmente en la región norte del golfo. El origen de algunas anomalías se desconoce. Se observa un calentamiento estadísticamente significativo de ~ 1°C durante los 17 años de las observaciones, aparentemente debido a la variabilidad interdecadal del océano Pacífico. doi: sin doi
Natal signatures of juvenile Coris julis in the Azores: investigating connectivity scenarios in an oceanic archipelago

To estimate connectivity between populations, we used trace-element composition in otoliths of the temperate wrasse Coris julis as a proxy for the environmental conditions experienced from hatch to settlement. Recruits collected at different sites in the Azores archipelago (northeastern Atlantic) differed significantly in their natal chemical signatures, and were sufficiently diverse to be separated into in 4 distinct natal types. Types 1 and 4 were both low in Mg and Ba, although Mg was dominant in Type 1, and Type 4 was more Ba enriched. Type 2 had high Ba and intermediate Mg con- centrations, while Type 3 showed the highest Mg and intermediate Ba concentrations. We identified at least 2 natal types present in recruits at each site, which suggests multiple larval sources per site. Recruits from 3 sites did not differ greatly in their natal type composition, suggesting a common set of sources, but also limiting our ability to describe meaningful connectivity and dispersal scenarios. In contrast, we found that the prevalent Natal Type 4 was absent at 1 site, suggesting that the source characterized by Natal Type 4 does not contribute to the replenishment of C. julis populations at the site. The most striking difference was observed at the smallest scale (10s of kilometers), where we found distinct natal type compositions between north and south shores on the same island, suggest- ing that these 2 sites have consistent differences in the contribution of specific natal sources. Further, the south shore site had recruits with elevated Mg:Ca concentrations from the otolith core to edge, which suggests that these larvae developed in inshore areas and experienced local retention.
Advertising to Status-Conscious Consumers

This paper develops a simple, social theory of advertising, in a setting where consumers care about social status. Consumers difier in their wealth, which is unobservable, where all consumers want others to believe they are wealthy. A monopolist advertises and sells a conspicuous good that can allow consumers to signal their wealth through their purchases. Advertising is purely informative: it allows consumers both to buy the conspicuous good and to recognize when others buy. I show that in equilibrium, advertising afiects willingness to pay by increasing the stigma of consumers who don’t buy and promoting widespread recognition of those who do. Advertising also encourages conformist behavior, small changes in advertising levels can have large efiects, and the flrm may advertise to consumers it knows are unwilling to buy.
Pros-cons debate about the role and evolution of uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS)

Uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is the latest advancement in minimally invasive surgery, combining the advantages of triportal thoracoscopic surgery, such as less pain or paresthesia and faster recovery, with optimal cosmetic outcomes. The uniportal access was first described by Marcello Migliore and Gaetano Rocco for minor thoracic procedures like wedge resection (1,2) and nowadays, thanks to the gained experience in the past years, more complex cases are performed hence expanding the indications for single-incision thoracoscopic surgery.
Green-Tree Retention and Life after the Beetle: Stand Structure and Small Mammals 30 Years after Salvage Harvesting

We report on a retrospective investigation of the impacts of salvage harvesting of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelm. ex S. Wats.), killed by an outbreak of mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopk.) in the 1970s, with variable retention of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirbel) Franco). Our inference to biodiversity was coniferous stand structure and four mammal species: the southern red-backed vole (Myodes gapperi Vigors), common shrew (Sorex cinereus Kerr), red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus Erxleben) and northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus Shaw). We tested hypotheses that, at 30 years after salvage harvest of beetle-killed lodgepole pine trees, (1) abundance and diversity of stand structure, and (2) abundance of mammal species, will increase with higher levels of green-tree retention (GTR). Stand structure attributes and small mammals were sampled during 2005–2008 in young pine stands, with a range of GTR seed-trees (none, dispersed, and aggregated Douglas-fir), and uncut forest in south-central British Columbia, Canada. Diameters and heights of Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine and basal area of total conifers supported hypothesis (1). Mean abundance of the red-backed vole was consistently higher (2.3 to 6.4 times) in the uncut forest than other stands. Overall mean patterns of abundance for common shrews, red squirrels, and northern flying squirrels were similar among treatment stands. Mean abundance of the red-backed vole supported hypothesis (2), but numbers of the other three species did not. There is “life after the beetle” at 30 years after salvage harvesting, and this was enhanced by GTR.
A Clinical Usefulness of the Electroencephalogram in Acute Stroke – A Preliminary Study

Introduction: Stroke is the main cause of disability worldwide, being the first cause of death in Portugal. In the first hours of the event, the cranioencephalic CT scan (CT Scan) does not show the lesion in about 74% of cases, making validation of alternative diagnostic approaches of utmost importance. The electroencephalogram (EEG) may provide useful information for the diagnosis and prognosis of stroke. Objective: To study the potential usefulness of the EEG for the early diagnosis of acute stroke in patients with initial negative CT Scan, and for the evaluation of the functional status and risk of epilepsy. Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients with ischemic stroke who underwent EEG and acute phase CT scan between January 2014 and February 2018. Patient characteristics and stroke were classified according to the Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project (OCSP) criteria. The patients were functionally evaluated at 12 months post-stroke by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and the existence of post-stroke epilepsy was determined by telephone interview on February 2018. Results: Thirty patients (25 females and 5 males, mean age 70.5 years) were included. According to the OCSP were identified: 40% TACS, 37% PACS, 10% LACS and 13% POCS. 50% with acute vascular injury visible on the initial CT Scan performed with 7 hours of evolution in median. All patients underwent EEG with a median of 3 days of evolution, and slow focal activity was observed in all patients, and focal paroxysmal activity (PA) was seen in 17% of the participants. 17 patients (58% of patients) developed post-stroke epilepsy (PSE) with 4 of these having PA evidence in the initial EEG (24%). One of the patients with PA in the initial EEG did not develop epilepsy during a 4 years follow-up period. In patients without PA, the average of mRs at follow-up was 3.8 and the mortality was 24%, whereas in patients with PA, the mean of the mRs was 5.0 and the mortality was 40%. Conclusion: In this study, unlike CT Scan, the acute-phase EEG presented with abnormal features in all patients with acute stroke, therefore the EEG may potentially provide significant diagnostic information, estimates of risk for developing future epilepsy and also overall risk stratification. Further studies are needed to validate this hypothesis.
METABOLISM IN HYDROELECTRIC RESERVOIRS

Reservoirs are anthropogenic aquatic systems accounting to a substantial portion of the contemporary distribution, and dynamic, of freshwater systems across a wide geographical gradient throughout the Globe, with potential to increase its participation due to the growth of world’s economy and need for energy. These systems may play an important role, poorly documented and currently controversial, to the regional to global balance of greenhouse gases. We studied bacterial metabolism (production and respiration) in eight large hydroelectric reservoirs in Brazil following a gradient in area, age since flooding and residence time. Seven of which located in tropical savanna and the other located in the tropical forest region. The results indicate similar bacterial production (BP) and bacterial respiration (BR) variability, with higher BR rates in relation to BP. Bacterial growth efficiency also showed a wide range (2.5 to 28.7 %), besides a low mean value (13%). Reservoir age was the best predictor for BGE, as well as for the specific bacterial respiration (SBR). The older reservoir showed the lower BGE and the higher SBR. The bacterial metabolism rates in the pelagic regions of tropical Cerrado hydroelectric reservoirs do not differ from natural freshwater system concerning BP, BR and BGE; however, it is differentiated by the factors driven those rates.
Perceived Enforcement Of Informal Buyer-Supplier Contractual Arrangements In Ugandan Small And Medium Enterprises (SMES)

SME buyers tend to avoid formal binding contractual arrangements with suppliers of resources, a situation which creates operational and technical difficulties and increases transactional costs. Ntayi et al., 2010a using data from Ugandan SMEs have revealed that majority of buyers (83.4%) use oral agreements in their business transactions with suppliers. Only a few (16.6%) were observed to have used written contracts. Whereas informal and oral contracts are enforceable in the Uganda’s commercial court, the process of assembling evidence is tedious and takes long (Kiryabwire, 2010). In such circumstances parties privy to the contract end up losing genuine cases unfairly. Even where they are successful, the assessment of damages to be awarded to the victor is a nightmare as business records are non-existent to properly establish the impact of the breach of contract on the business (Kiryabwire, 2010). This happens in SME business relationships which are meant to generate intangible and tangible benefits in short or long terms through the firm’s social capital. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of social capital, organizational amnesia, and moral reasoning on the enforcement behaviors of informal contracts in Ugandan SMEs. This study adopts a triangulation approach and collects data from a sample of 2,228 SMEs. Results reveal that social capital and organizational amnesia have a significant negative effect on the enforcement behavior of Ugandan buyer-supplier informal contracts. However, the interactive effects of: social capital and moral reasoning; and organizational amnesia and moral reasoning has a positive effect on the enforcement behavior of Ugandan buyer-supplier informal contracts. This has policy and managerial implications which we present and discuss in our paper.
The Effect of Zinc Supplementation on Linear Growth and Growth Factors in Primary Schoolchildren in the Suburbs Mashhad, Iran

Background: Zinc is an essential trace element required for the functional activity of several enzyme systems. Several studies have been carried out to assess the effect of zinc supplementation on children’s growth, but controversy exists as to the effect of zinc on growth and GH-IGF-I system. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of zinc supplementation on linear growth and serum level of IGF-I, Ca ,P, ALP in elementary school children living in a low socioeconomic suburb of Mashhad in Northeast of Iran. Methods: The study was a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled efficacy trial. Subjects were 200 volunteer primary school children. Both case and control groups comprised of 100 individuals each with 50 males and 50 females. Intervention supplementation was zinc sulfate tablets (10 mg elemental) and placebo tablets for both groups, administrated for a period of six months. The height, weight, height for age and weight for age Z-scores and Body Mass Index were measured at 0,2,4, and 6 months. After six months the level of IGF-I, calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase were measured using blood samples taken from 50 volunteer children, 33 from the case and 17 from the control group. The results were compared in the two groups. Results: There was a significant increase (p<0.05) in linear growth and weight amongst both male and female of the case group compared to the control after six months of receiving zinc. However, there was no significant difference in the serum level for the measured parameters between the two groups. Conclusion: This study provides evidence of positive effect of zinc supplementation on the growth of school children living in a low socioeconomic suburb of Mashhad city in Iran.
Dilemmas in Teacher Development in the Chinese EFL Context

In the field of teacher development in China, it is of great priority to promote the re-construction of teachers’ beliefs about education in the context of the National Curriculum Reform. As teachers’ beliefs are context-dependent, it is important to examine the sociocultural context when investigating teachers’ beliefs. The examination of the above context in China reveals that with the gradual promotion of the National English Curriculum Standards (NECS), more and more people have begun to realise the importance of the educational concepts which underpin teachers’ practice in the implementation of the NECS. However, Chinese teachers still have to deal with dilemmas in teachers, such as the clashes between two cultures of learning, constraints arising from contextual influences, disconnection between theory and practice, and inadequate professional support. Therefore, professional support for teachers by means of in-depth study of teachers’ beliefs can enhance teachers’ expertise by understanding teachers’ beliefs and how they conceptualise their practice in the classroom context.