Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Past performance and changes in local bias

Recent research suggests that investors actively skew their portfolios toward local stocks. This study investigates whether fund managers increasingly shift their holdings toward local stocks when underperforming external benchmarks. Using a unique dataset consisting of detailed securities transactions and complete daily portfolio holdings of four large state retirement plans, I find evidence that negative plan performance leads to greater local bias. This finding is consistent with fund managers foregoing geographic diversification in favor of local stocks during periods of underperformance. I also find evidence consistent with fund managers possessing an information advantage in local stocks relative to non-local stocks; however this advantage varies with contractual incentives. I thank my dissertation chairman, Karl Muller, for his continuous guidance and support in the development of this paper. I also thank the other members of my dissertation committee: Paul Fischer and Dan Givoly – as well as Ben Lansford, Rick Laux, Tom Miller, Adrienne Rhodes, Dan Russomanno, Kristy Schenck, Jim Vincent, Luke Watson and seminar participants at Penn State and Michigan State University for their helpful comments and suggestions. Past Performance and Changes in Local Bias Abstract Recent research suggests that investors actively skew their portfolios toward local stocks. This study investigates whether fund managers increasingly shift their holdings toward local stocks when underperforming external benchmarks. Using a unique dataset consisting of detailed securities transactions and complete daily portfolio holdings of four large state retirement plans, I find evidence that negative plan performance leads to greater local bias. This finding is consistent with fund managers foregoing geographic diversification in favor of local stocks during periods of underperformance. I also find evidence consistent with fund managers possessing an information advantage in local stocks relative to non-local stocks; however this advantage varies with contractual incentives.Recent research suggests that investors actively skew their portfolios toward local stocks. This study investigates whether fund managers increasingly shift their holdings toward local stocks when underperforming external benchmarks. Using a unique dataset consisting of detailed securities transactions and complete daily portfolio holdings of four large state retirement plans, I find evidence that negative plan performance leads to greater local bias. This finding is consistent with fund managers foregoing geographic diversification in favor of local stocks during periods of underperformance. I also find evidence consistent with fund managers possessing an information advantage in local stocks relative to non-local stocks; however this advantage varies with contractual incentives.
1-Bit Reconfigurable Unit Cell for Ka-Band Transmitarrays

This letter presents an electronically reconfigurable, linearly polarized unit cell for transmitarray applications in Ka-band. A 1-bit phase resolution (namely with two phase states 0 ° and 180 °) is obtained using two p-i-n diodes mounted on a slot-loaded patch antenna. The design, realization, and experimental characterization in a standard waveguide simulator are reported. The measured insertion losses only reach 1.09 and 1.29 dB for the two-phase states, respectively, with a 3-dB transmission bandwidth of about 11.2%.
Substrate Specificity and Inhibition Studies of Human SerotoninN-Acetyltransferase*

Arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) catalyzes the reaction of serotonin with acetyl-CoA to formN-acetylserotonin and plays a major role in the regulation of the melatonin circadian rhythm in vertebrates. In the present study, the human cloned enzyme has been expressed in bacteria, purified, cleaved, and characterized. The specificity of the human enzyme toward substrates (natural as well as synthetic arylethylamines) and cosubstrates (essentially acyl homologs of acetyl-CoA) has been investigated. Peptide combinatorial libraries of tri-, tetra-, and pentapeptides with various amino acid compositions were also screened as potential sources of inhibitors. We report the findings of several peptides with low micromolar inhibitory potency. For activity measurement as well as for specificity studies, an original and rapid method of analysis was developed. The assay was based on the separation and detection of N-[3H]acetylarylethylamine formed from various arylethylamines and tritiated acetyl-CoA, by means of high performance liquid chromatography with radiochemical detection. The assay proved to be robust and flexible, could accommodate the use of numerous synthetic substrates, and was successfully used throughout this study. We also screened a large number of pharmacological bioamines among which only one, tranylcypromine, behaved as a substrate. The synthesis and survey of simple arylethylamines also showed that AANAT has a large recognition pattern, including compounds as different as phenyl-, naphthyl-, benzothienyl-, or benzofuranyl-ethylamine derivatives. An extensive enzymatic study allowed us to pinpoint the amino acid residue of the pentapeptide inhibitor, S 34461, which interacts with the cosubstrate-binding site area, in agreement with an in silico study based on the available coordinates of the hAANAT crystal.
Expression of NG2 proteoglycan in the degenerated intervertebral disc in dachshunds

The pathogenesis of intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is not fully understood. The biomolecular signaling pathways involved in the IVD degeneration require further investigation. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of NG2 proteoglycan in the degenerated IVD. IVD samples were obtained from 16 Dachshunds that were confirmed to have IVD herniation and subsequently underwent hemilaminectomy. The samples were subjected to histological and immunohistochemical (IHC) examinations. IHC revealed positive results for the expression of NG2 proteoglycan in all examined samples. The results showed the expression of NG2 proteoglycan by the degenerated IVDs.
Predictors of Adherence to Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy in First-Episode Psychosis

Objective: To investigate predictors of adherence with a cognitive-behavioural intervention in first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients. Method: Predictors of adherence to cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) were longitudinally investigated in the experimental arm of a randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a CBT intervention for relapse prevention early in the course of psychosis when compared with treatment as usual within 2 high quality, youth oriented, specialist FEP programs (the EPISODE II trial). Results: Longer duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and poorer level of insight predicted poor adherence to CBT. This association remained significant after controlling for potential confounders. Conclusions: Treatment delay may decrease adherence with CBT in FEP patients. Reducing DUP and promoting insight early in the course of psychosis are likely to enhance adherence with CBT.
Assessment of stigma associated with stuttering: development and evaluation of the self-stigma of stuttering scale (4S).

PURPOSE To create a psychometrically sound scale that measures different levels of internalized stigma (i.e., self-stigma) among adults who stutter and to analyze factor structure, reliability, and initial construct validity of the scale. METHOD Two-hundred ninety-one adults who stutter were recruited from Board Recognized Specialists in Fluency Disorders and the National Stuttering Association. Participants completed a web-based survey including an experimental scale called the Self-Stigma of Stuttering Scale (4S), designed to measure different levels of self-stigma in people who stutter, along with a series of established measures of self-esteem, self-efficacy, and life satisfaction. RESULTS The experimental scale demonstrated adequate reliability in internal consistency and temporal stability. Factor analysis revealed underlying components supportive of a multidimensional model of stigma. Stigma self-concurrence and, to a lesser extent, stereotype agreement and stigma awareness were negatively correlated with self-esteem, self-efficacy, and life satisfaction, supporting initial construct validity of the scale. CONCLUSION Speech-language pathologists can identify the presence of self-stigma in their adult clients who stutter and help them to alter these beliefs. The 4S can be a means for researchers and clinicians to achieve these goals.
Thermal death kinetics and heatingrate effects for fifth-instar Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Thermal death kinetic parameters of fifth-instar codling moths (Cydia pomonella (L.)) and the effect of three heating rates (11Cmin , 101Cmin , and 181Cmin ) on larval mortality were determined by a heating block system. The insects were heated to four temperatures (461C, 481C, 501C, and 521C) held for predetermined periods followed by 24 h storage at 41C before mortality evaluation. Thermal death kinetics for fifth-instar codling moths followed a 0.5th order of kinetic reaction. Minimum time required to achieve 100% mortality of a given population decreased with temperature in a semi-logarithmic manner. No larval survival was observed in samples of 600 insects after exposure to 461C, 481C, 501C, and 521C for 50, 15, 5, and 2min, respectively. Activation energy for thermal kill of fifth-instar codling moths at the heating rate of 181Cmin 1 was estimated to be about 472 kJmol . The lethal time accumulated during the ramp period was about 1.8, 0.2, and 0.1min for the heating rates of 11Cmin , 101Cmin , and 181Cmin , respectively. r 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Timing of allergy‐preventive and immunomodulatory dietary interventions – are prenatal, perinatal or postnatal strategies optimal?

The increasing allergy prevalence in affluent countries may be caused by reduced microbial stimulation and a decreased dietary ω‐3/ω‐6 long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) ratio, resulting in an abnormal postnatal immune maturation. The timing of allergy‐preventive probiotic and ω‐3 LCPUFA interventions is critical, as early‐life events occurring during critical windows of immune vulnerability can have long‐term impact on immune development. The maternal dietary and microbial environment during pregnancy may programme the immune development of the child. Prenatal environmental exposures may alter gene expression via epigenetic mechanisms, aiming to induce physiological adaptations to the anticipated postnatal environment, but potentially also increasing disease susceptibility in the offspring if exposures are mismatched. Although the importance of fetal programming mostly has been studied in cardiovascular and metabolic disease, this hypothesis is also very attractive in the context of environmentally influenced immune‐mediated diseases. This review focuses on how prenatal, perinatal or postnatal ω‐3 LCPUFA interventions regulate childhood immune and allergy development, and if synergistic effects may be obtained by simultaneous probiotic supplementation. We propose that combined pre‐ and postnatal preventive measures may be most efficacious. Increasing knowledge on the immunomodulatory effects of prenatal, perinatal and postnatal interventions will help to direct future strategies to combat the allergy epidemic.
Assessment of Synaptic Plasticity via Long-Term Potentiation in Young Mice on the Day after Acoustic Trauma: Implications for Tinnitus.

OBJECTIVE This experimental study evaluated the pathophysiological association of long-term potentiation (LTP)-mediated synaptic plasticity in tinnitus in 30 BALB/c mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS Baseline hearing levels and tinnitus perception were examined with startle reflex time and gap detection time measurements using an acoustic stimulus of a 6-kHz pure tone at 90 dB sound pressure level (SPL) on post-natal day 16. The acoustic trauma group was exposed to 6-kHz pure tone at 120 dB SPL on post-natal day 16. On post-natal day 17, the acoustic trauma group underwent re-measurements of hearing levels and tinnitus perception using an acoustic stimulus of 6-kHz pure tone at 100 dB SPL. Fifteen tinnitus-induced and fifteen control subjects were sacrificed on post-natal day 17, and LTP in the dorsal cochlear nuclei of each animal was examined. RESULTS With respect to gap detection time, there were no statistically significant between-group differences; however, there was a statistically significant difference between the pre- and post-trauma period in the acoustic trauma group. Moreover, LTP was significantly higher in the acoustic trauma group than in the control group. CONCLUSION The results suggest that LTP underlies tinnitus pathogenesis.
Hypofractionated versus conventionally fractionated radiotherapy for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast

Hypofractionated radiotherapy (RT) in the setting of early invasive breast cancer has been shown to have similar local control rates and cosmetic outcomes as conventionally fractionated RT. This study compares ipsilateral recurrence rates between hypofractionated and conventional RT, with and without a boost. The effect of hypofractionated RT and chest wall separation (CWS) on cosmetic outcome was also assessed.
Sibling psychological adjustment to type 1 diabetes mellitus

Objective: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic condition whose management affects the whole family, and siblings of children with chronic conditions have been shown to be at higher risk of emotional and behavioural problems. The aims of this study were to investigate sibling adjustment to T1DM using a cross‐sectional questionnaire survey design.
Motivos e consequências da baixa adesão às precauções padrão pela equipe de enfermagem

Standard precautions (SP) are recommendations to prevent infection and protect health care workers during the provision of care, however, still exists low adherence to these recommendations. Objective To analyze the reasons and consequences of low adherence to standard precautions by the nursing staff. Method integrative literature review, search in seven databases, from 2005 to 2014. Results 30 articles were selected for analysis. The reasons for low adherence evidenced relate to deficient practices of lifelong learning, risk behaviors of workers, inadequate provision of equipment and protective equipment and inadequate working conditions. The consequences are accidents and occupational diseases. There are few intervention studies, which merely provide guidance to professionals. Conclusions The low adhesion to standard precautions is linked to individual aspects of workers, employers and educational institutions. Intervention strategies carried out have shown little efficient by only focusing on the worker.
Spiking Suppression Precedes Cued Attentional Enhancement of Neural Responses in Primary Visual Cortex

Attending to a visual stimulus increases its detectability, even if gaze is directed elsewhere. This covert attentional selection is known to enhance spiking across many brain areas, including the primary visual cortex (V1). Here we investigate the temporal dynamics of attention-related spiking changes in V1 of macaques performing a task that separates attentional selection from the onset of visual stimulation. We found that preceding attentional enhancement there was a sharp, transient decline in spiking following presentation of an attention-guiding cue. This disruption of V1 spiking was not observed in a task-naïve subject that passively observed the same stimulus sequence, suggesting that sensory activation is insufficient to cause suppression. Following this suppression, attended stimuli evoked more spiking than unattended stimuli, matching previous reports of attention-related activity in V1. Laminar analyses revealed a distinct pattern of activation in feedback-associated layers during both the cue-induced suppression and subsequent attentional enhancement. These findings suggest that top-down modulation of V1 spiking can be bidirectional and result in either suppression or enhancement of spiking responses.
Determination of the absolute perfusion threshold preventing myocardial ischaemia in humans

The ischaemic cascade1 describes the temporal sequence of pathophysiological events initiated by an imbalance between myocardial oxygen supply and demand. Depending on severity and duration, an ischaemic episode may manifest as metabolic disturbance, mechanical dysfunction, electrical changes, angina pectoris or, ultimately, as myocardial infarction. Although being the primary sequelae of coronary artery disease (CAD), quantitative relationships between myocardial perfusion changes and their consequences such as metabolic, mechanical or electrical dysfunction are not well defined. In particular, the existence of an absolute perfusion threshold preventing short-term ischaemia has not been investigated so far. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) provides an elegant model to deal with this issue in patients with CAD. During angioplasty, myocardial blood supply is diminished below normal depending on the collateral supply from adjacent vascular regions. Absolute perfusion or myocardial blood flow (MBF, ml/min/g) can be obtained from positron emission tomography and, of late, from myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE). 2 However, only MCE is applicable during PCI owing to its mobility and short acquisition time. Our study aimed to determine the absolute perfusion threshold that prevents myocardial ischaemia using MBF measurements by contrast echocardiography during angioplasty in humans. Twenty eight consecutive patients with stable CAD eligible for PCI …
Charge-dependent secretion of an intrinsically disordered protein via the autotransporter pathway

Significance Bacterial autotransporter proteins contain a large segment that is transported from the periplasm (the space between the inner and outer membranes) to the extracellular milieu. Because the periplasm lacks ATP, the energy required for the transport reaction is thought to be derived from the folding of this segment following its secretion. Contrary to the prevailing view, we found that a heterologous polypeptide that cannot fold was secreted efficiently when it was fused to an autotransporter. Reducing the negative charge of this polypeptide, however, strongly impaired secretion. Our results identify net charge as a potentially important factor that drives autotransporter secretion. Autotransporters are a large class of virulence proteins produced by Gram-negative bacteria. They contain an N-terminal extracellular (“passenger”) domain that folds into a β-helical structure and a C-terminal β-barrel (“β”) domain that anchors the protein to the outer membrane. Because the periplasm lacks ATP, the source of energy that drives passenger domain secretion is unknown. The prevailing model postulates that vectorial folding of the β-helix in the extracellular space facilitates unidirectional secretion of the passenger domain. In this study we used a chimeric protein composed of the 675-residue receptor-binding domain (RD) of the Bordetella pertussis adenylate cyclase toxin CyaA fused to the C terminus of the Escherichia coli O157:H7 autotransporter EspP to test this hypothesis. The RD is a highly acidic, repetitive polypeptide that is intrinsically disordered in the absence of calcium. Surprisingly, we found that the RD moiety was efficiently secreted when it remained in an unfolded conformation. Furthermore, we found that neutralizing or reversing the charge of acidic amino acid clusters stalled translocation in the vicinity of the altered residues. These results challenge the vectorial folding model and, together with the finding that naturally occurring passenger domains are predominantly acidic, provide evidence that a net negative charge plays a significant role in driving the translocation reaction.
The Effects of Network Parameters on the Level of Trust in Trust Games with Incomplete Information

The most currently popular method for assessing trust in online social networks is Trust Game. The major studies in this area have established results formed into hypotheses for the effects of a number of network parameters on the extent to which individuals would place trust on each other. However, hypotheses for the effects of a few number of network parameters, such as Indegree, are not deducible since the restrictive game-theoretic assumptions that are imposed into the model do not let any such evidence available. To relax the game-theoretic assumptions, we develop a model for games with incomplete information, based on a game-theoretic model developed by Buskens (1998), and conduct a series of computer simulation of a model of Iterated Heterogeneous Trust Games (IHTG). We compare the results with those of Buskens’ (1998) model and introduce Link-Strength as a new network parameter to investigate. Our results show a positive effect of both Indegree and Link-strength on the level of trust in a noisy environment. In addition, we come to a conclusion that current models can be fooled by the existing noise in the context of information transmission, such as inactive users in our case.
Use of histologic margin evaluation to predict recurrence of cutaneous malignant tumors in dogs and cats after surgical excision.

OBJECTIVE To assess the usefulness of histologic evaluation of surgical margins to predict local recurrence of cutaneous malignant tumors in dogs and cats treated by means of surgical excision. DESIGN Prospective case series. ANIMALS 40 dogs and 20 cats. PROCEDURES 60 surgically excised tumors (20 soft tissue sarcomas [STSs], 20 mast cell tumors [MCTs], and 20 carcinomas) were examined histologically. Margins were classified as clean, close, or infiltrated; histologic grade was assessed in STSs and MCTs. Recurrence rates and recurrence-free intervals (RFIs) during a 24-month follow-up period were recorded, and method accuracy was calculated. RESULTS Surgical margins were clean in 29 of 60 (48%) tumors, close in 11 (18%), and infiltrated in 20 (33%). Tumors recurred in 27 of 60 (45%) animals, with a mean ± SD RFI of 229 ± 173 days. Recurrence rates for animals that had tumors with infiltrated (16/20) or close (8/11) margins were significantly higher than recurrence rate for animals that had tumors with clean margins (3/29). Margin classification was a significant predictor of RFI. Accuracy of the method to predict recurrence was 94% for carcinomas, 87% for STSs, and 76% for MCTs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Histologic assessment of margin status was useful for predicting local recurrence of cutaneous malignant tumors in dogs and cats treated by means of excision alone. Method accuracy varied among tumor types and grades. Recurrence times suggested postsurgical follow-up should continue for ≥ 2 years. Results were similar for animals with infiltrated and close tumor margins, and careful postsurgical management is recommended for both.
Computational experience with improved variable metric methods for unconstrained minimization

Institute of Mathematics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic provides access to digitized documents strictly for personal use. Each copy of any part of this document must contain these Terms of use. This paper has been digitized, optimized for electronic delivery and stamped with digital signature within the project DML-CZ: The Czech Digital Mathematics Library The paper describes three improved variable metric methods for unconstrained minimization and shows their efficiency on a broad class of test problems. These methods are based on the controlled scaling and on the pertinent combination of the rank-one method with other variable metric methods.