Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Elucidating rational investment decisions and behavioral biases: Evidence from theTaiwanese stock market

Financial innovation has witnessed an increasing number of financial products in the financial industry. Various investment activities involving individual investors have also become prevalent in the Taiwanese financial market. Financial managers thus highly prioritize elucidating the investment behaviors of individual investors and then incorporate them in investment decision making. This study examines how rational decision making and behavioral biases are related, as well compares the relative differences of three behavioral biases, i.e. disposition effect, herding and overconfidence, by various demographic variables. The psychological cognition of investment decision making among investors and the antecedences of behavioral biases are also studied based on a sampling survey of 430 valid respondents from voluntary individual investors in Taiwan. Based on structure equation modeling (SEM), path analysis is performed on how rational decision making and three proposed behavioral biases are related. Analytical results indicate that the structural path model closely fits to the sample data, implying the role of rational decision making in investment behaviors among individuals. However, the irrational investment behavioral biases might arise in various decision-making stages. Our results further demonstrate that male and female investors significantly differ in disposition effect, herding and tendency of overconfidence. Key words: Rational investment decisions, behavioral finance, disposition effect, herding, overconfidence.
Sensitivity of water stress in a two-layered sandy grassland soil to variations in groundwater depth and soil hydraulic parameters

Abstract. Monitoring and modelling tools may improve irrigation strategies in precision agriculture. We used non-invasive soil moisture monitoring, a crop growth and a soil hydrological model to predict soil water content fluctuations and crop yield in a heterogeneous sandy grassland soil under supplementary irrigation. The sensitivity of the soil hydrological model to hydraulic parameters, water stress, crop yield and lower boundary conditions was assessed after integrating models. Free drainage and incremental constant head conditions were implemented in a lower boundary sensitivity analysis. A time-dependent sensitivity analysis of the hydraulic parameters showed that changes in soil water content are mainly affected by the soil saturated hydraulic conductivity Ks and the Mualem–van Genuchten retention curve shape parameters n and α. Results further showed that different parameter optimization strategies (two-, three-, four- or six-parameter optimizations) did not affect the calculated water stress and water content as significantly as does the bottom boundary. In this case, a two-parameter scenario, where Ks was optimized for each layer under the condition of a constant groundwater depth at 135–140 cm, performed best. A larger yield reduction, and a larger number and longer duration of stress conditions occurred in the free drainage condition as compared to constant boundary conditions. Numerical results showed that optimal irrigation scheduling using the aforementioned water stress calculations can save up to 12–22 % irrigation water as compared to the current irrigation regime. This resulted in a yield increase of 4.5–6.5 %, simulated by the crop growth model.
Farmers' Access and Use of Mobile Phones for Improving the Coverage of Agricultural Extension Service: A Case of Kilosa District, Tanzania

This study sought to investigate on the access and use of mobile phones for improving the coverage of agricultural extension services among farmers in the pre-harvest stages of maize value chain in Kilosa district. The study examined the use of mobile phones as a means for improving the coverage of agricultural extension services. The study adapted a cross sectional study design and a multistage sampling technique. Data were mainly collected using structured questionnaires. The results revealed that majority of respondents used mobile phones and had a positive attitude on the contribution of mobile phone in their farming business. The study results also indicated that mobile phones offered an affordable solution to farmers' information needs and information requirements. The study concluded that the use of mobile phone to communicate agricultural information depends on information needs of farmers. The study recommended that farmers need to be encouraged and supported to access and use mobile phones in their farming business.
Effects of different substrates and salinity on growth and yield of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) in soilless culture.

Salinity is a very serious problem for agricultural development, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. On the other hand, many benefits of soilless culture have caused the expansion of these systems in these areas. In this research, in order to investigate the effects of different substrates and salinity stress on physiological characteristics and yield of broccoli, an experiment was conducted as factorial, in which the main factor was substrate (cocopeat, perlite, sand, 25% cocopeat+75% perlite, 25% perlite+75% cocopeat and 50% peat+50% pumice) and the sub factor was salinity stress (0, 100 and 150 mM NaCl) with 4 replications. Results indicated that substrate, different levels of salinity and their interaction had significant effects on morphological characteristics, days to flowering, fresh and dry weight of leaves, nutrients concentration and weight of the broccoli head. Maximum values of the aforementioned factors were observed in the zero salinity level and 50% peat+50% pumice substrate. This means that substrate can be effective on the effect of salinity on plants. High levels of salinity caused a reduction in growth and yield of broccoli and this growth reduction was accompanied by the reduction of chlorophyll and content of Ca, K, and Fe and increased Na and Cl concentration in leaf tissue. The best growing medium, either in saline or non-saline conditions, was 50% peat+50% pumice. Although broccoli growth was not suitable in perlite medium, this substrate caused its early maturing. In this experiment, salinity treatment reduced the head weight of broccoli, in addition to decreasing the quality of yield. According to the results, 50% peat+50 pumice is recommended as a proper substrate for production of broccoli.
Toxic Heavy Metals in Ambient Air of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic Congo

The particularly high rate of urbanization in Kinshasa is associated with environmental degradation, such as air pollution. However, little documented information exists on the nature and extent of this pollution. In the present study, Atmospheric samples of ambient air were collected in Kinshasa for 4 months (July to October, 2009) and analyzed for As, Cd, Pb and Ni using ICP - MS. The ranges of heavy metal concentrations for the 24-h ambient air samples in roadside sites (residential sites) were 0.9-6.0 ng/m3 (0.4-2.8 ng/m3), 2.5-5.9 ng/m3 (1.2-3.5 ng/m3), 166.2-1422.5 ng/m3 (72.0-1685.0 ng/m3), 48.7-482.0 ng/m3 (42.0-117.6 ng/m3) for As, Cd, Pb and Ni, respectively. Current 24-h average levels of all of them show higher levels than those measured in Europe. Toxicologically relevant elements reach levels of public health concern. The Efforts should be made to reduce the levels of metal contamination.
Organic solar cells with solution-processed graphene transparent electrodes

We demonstrate that solution-processed graphene thin films can serve as transparent conductive anodes for organic photovoltaic cells. The graphene electrodes were deposited on quartz substrates by spin coating of an aqueous dispersion of functionalized graphene, followed by a reduction process to reduce the sheet resistance. Small molecular weight organic solar cells can be directly deposited on such graphene anodes. The short-circuit current and fill factor of these devices on graphene are lower than those of control device on indium tin oxide due to the higher sheet resistance of the graphene films. We anticipate that further optimization of the reduction conditions will improve the performance of these graphene anodes.
Quantification of the Expression of HIF-1alpha by Real-Time PCR in Rat Hepatocytes Cultures Invaded by Shigella flexneri under Normoxic and Hypoxic Conditions

Aim: Shigella flexneri (S. flexneri) is a gram-negative enterobacterium responsible for severe intestinal end systemic infection in humans. The bacteria can reach the liver due to degeneration of the colonic epithelium. Hypoxia is present in many human diseases and can induce the expression of the transcription factor HIF-1alpha that may have a cell protective role. The influence of hypoxia and HIF-1alpha on bacterial infection, studied in this work, is unclear. Hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) is a transcription factor that acts as a master regulator of gene expression induced by hypoxia. Methods: We compared the ability of S. flexneri to invade rat hepatocytes in primary culture both in normoxic and hypoxic conditions. We evaluated TNF-alpha released by hepatocytes, apoptosis rate and HIF-1alpha expression by confocal microscopy as well as real time PCR technique. Results: We showed that S. flexneri invaded less hepatocytes previously submitted to 24 h hypoxia (6.5% O2) than those cultivated in normoxia (21% O2). S. flexneri also induced HIF-1α expression in hepatocytes, TNF-α secretion and apoptosis. Conclusion: a) Hypoxia alone was not a stimulus to TNF-α secretion, but induced cell apoptosis and HIF-1α expression; b) S. flexneri was able to invade rat hepatocytes and hypoxia apparently influenced significantly bacterial cell invasiveness; c) HIF-1α was expressed in hypoxic conditions, and it was also stimulated by S. flexneri.
SYNTHESIS OF ALKYLPOLYGLUCOSIDE FROM DEXTROSE-DECANOL IN THE PRESENCE OF SILICOTUNGSTIC ACID SOL-GEL CATALYST (Sintesis Alkilpoliglukosida Daripada Dekstrosa-Dekanol Dengan Kehadiran Katalis Asid Silikotungstik Sol-Gel)

The purpose of this study is to synthesis alkylpolyglucoside via condensation of decanol with dextrose in the presence of heterogenous catalyst. In this study, silicotungstic acid sol-gel (STSG) prepared using sol-gel was used as solid acid catalyst. The catalyst was characterized using BET surface area measurement, X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) surface analysis. The final product was easy to be separated from catalyst without the need of a further neutralization. Silicotungstic acid sol-gel has been found efficient to be solid catalyst for synthesis alkylpolyglucosides. Condensation reaction was carried out 8 hours at 110 o C-120 o C under vacuum condition at 10mmHg. The determination of decylglucoside has been achived by LC/ESI-MS/MS (ToF) giving a mass peak at m/z = 343.2 correspond to the m/z of (M +Na) + . Alkylpolyglucoside produced was analysed by FTIR, 1 H and 13 C NMR spectrometric technique.
Prediction of Polycomb/Trithorax Response Elements using Support Vector Machines

Polycomb/Trithorax Response Elements (PREs) are epigenetic elements that can maintain established transcriptional states over multiple cell divisions. Sequence motifs in known PREs have enabled genome-wide PRE prediction by the PREdictor and jPREdictor, using combined motif occurrences for scoring sequence windows. The EpiPredictor predicts PREs by using the method of Support Vector Machines (SVM), which enables the construction of non-linear classifiers by use of kernel functions. Aspects of using SVMs for PRE prediction can be investigated, such as setting of SVM parameters, using SVM decision values for scoring and using alternative feature sets. The PRE prediction implementation presented in this thesis, called PRESVM, uses SVM decision values to score sequence windows. PRESVM implements the feature sets used by (j)PREdictor and EpiPredictor, as well as feature sets using relative motif occurrence distances and periodic motif occurrence. Grid search and Particle Swarm Optimization are supported for setting SVM parameters. For evaluating PRE predictions of multiple classifiers against experimental data sets, an application called PREsent has been implemented. For a similar configuration for PRESVM and jPREdictor, PRESVM predicted a larger number of candidate PREs, which were more sensitive to but had lower Positive Predictive Values against experimental data considered than those of jPREdictor. A formal relationship was established between the PRESVM and jPREdictor decision functions for this configuration. The trade-offs make it difficult to conclude that either classifier is superior. Many configurations remain to be tested, and the results encourage further testing.
PARASITISM OF PHOTOSYNTHETIC DINOFLAGELLATES BY THREE STRAINS OF AMOEBOPHRYA (DINOPHYTA): PARASITE SURVIVAL, INFECTIVITY, GENERATION TIME, AND HOST SPECIFICITY1

Amoebophrya ceratii (Koeppen) Cachon is an obligate parasite of dinoflagellates and may represent a species complex. However, little is known about the biology and host range of different strains of Amoebophrya Cachon. Here, we determined parasite generation time and dinospore infectivity, survival, and ability to infect nonprimary hosts for strains of Amoebophrya from Akashiwo sanguinea (Hirasaka) G. Hansen et Moestrup, Gymnodinium instriatum (Freudenthal et Lee) Coats comb. nov., and Karlodinium micrum (Leadbeater et Dodge) J. Larsen. Akashiwo sanguinea was readily infected, with parasite prevalence reaching 100% in dinospore:host inoculations above a 10:1 ratio. Parasitism also approached 100% in G. instriatum, but only when inoculations exceeded a 40:1 ratio. Karlodinium micrum appeared partially resistant to infection, as parasite prevalence saturated at 92%. Parasite generation time differed markedly among Amoebophrya strains. Survival and infectivity of dinospores decreased over time, with strains from G. instriatum and A. sanguinea unable to initiate infections after 2 and 5 days, respectively. By contrast, dinospores from Amoebophrya parasitizing K. micrum remained infective for up to 11 days. Akashiwo sanguinea and G. instriatum were not infected when exposed to dinospores from nonprimary Amoebophrya strains. Karlodinium micrum, however, was attacked by dinospores of Amoebophrya from the other two host species, but infections failed to reach maturity. Observed differences in host–parasite biology support the hypothesis that Amoebophrya ceratii represents a complex of host‐specific species. Results also suggest that Amoebophrya strains have evolved somewhat divergent survival strategies that may encompass sexuality, heterotrophy during the “free‐living” dinospore stage, and dormancy.
Isla del Coco, on Cocos Plate, converges with Isla de San Andrés, on the Caribbean Plate, at 78mm/yr

Isla del Coco is the only land mass of the Cocos Plate that emerges above sea level. This makes it the only place where Cocos Plate motion can be measured using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) monitoring. Global Positioning System (GPS) observations have been carried out sporadically over more than two decades on Isla del Coco, allowing precise measurement of the motion of the Cocos Plate. Recently, in May 2011, a continuous GPS station was built and instrumented at Isla del Coco, in Wafer Bay, by OVSICORI-UNA and UNAVCO, as part of the COCONet regional GNSS network. Position time series from this CGPS station (ISCO: Isla del Coco) show a steady motion of Isla del Coco at a speed of 90.9±1.5mm/yr in the N35oE direction in ITRF2008 and convergence with the Caribbean Plate at 78±1mm/yr. This result is consistent with the findings of the earliest GPS studies, and agrees within uncertainty with the estimated convergence rate of 76.4±x mm/ yr of the MORVEL plate motion model. MORVEL is based on an average over the last 780,000 years, and our result suggests that Cocos-Caribbean plate motions have been constant over that time interval. Citation: Protti, M. , V. González, J. Freymueller & S. Doelger. 2012. Isla del Coco, on Cocos Plate, converges with San Andres Island, on the Caribbean Plate, at 78mm/yr. Rev. Biol. Trop. 60 (Suppl. 3): 33-41. Epub 2012 Dec 01.
MOBILE PHONES USED BY THE HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL AS A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF INFECTIONS

TOPIC: Mobile phones used by the health care personnel as a potential source of infection. Use of mobile phones by health care personnel in a hospital setup has been implicated as reservoirs of known nosocomial microorganisms. Objectives were to isolate and identify the microorganisms present on mobile phones of participants and establish the relationship between isolates of hands and mobile phones. It was a case control study includes 60 participants. e samples were tested for the isolation and identification microorganisms by the routine bacteriological procedures. Results showed significant bacterial growth in mobile phones (96.7%) and hands (83.3%) of health care personnel. 36.3% of organism isolated from mobile phones was same with the organisms isolated from hands of their respective participants. Data analysis was done by Microsoft office excel 2007. is research concludes mobile phones may act as a potential source pathogenic microorganisms.
THE CORRELATION BETWEEN BUSINESS STRATEGY, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE, IMPLEMENTATION OF CRM, AND BUSINESS PERFORMANCE IN A HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY

This paper studies the high-tech industry, probing the correlation between type of business strategy, use of information technology, type of organisational culture, implementation level of customer relationship management (CRM) activities, and business performance. Results show that the better the implementation of CRM activities, the stronger and more positive is its influence on business performance. To enhance business performance, it is necessary to strengthen the differentiation strategy, the use of information technology, and the implementation of CRM activities; to integrate the characteristics of the four cultural types into the competing values framework; and to enhance the implementation under these four cultural types. In hierdie artikel word die korrelasie tussen die tipe ondernemingstrategie, die gebruik van inligtingtegnologie, die tipe organisasiekultuur, die implementeringsvlak van klientverhoudingsbestuur (CRM) en ondernemingsprestasie in hoe-tegnologie-ondernemings ondersoek. Die resultate toon dat beter klientverhoudingsbestuur 'n poisitiewe invloed het op ondernemingsprestasie. Om ondernemingsprestasie te verbeter, is dit nodig om die differensiasie strategie, die gebruik van inligtingstegnologie asook die implementering van CRM-aktiwiteite te versterk.
Atenção primária à saúde: estrutura das unidades como componente da atenção à saúde

OBJECTIVES: to assess the structure of the primary health care units in two municipalities, comparing the Family Health Units(FHU) and the conventional units. METHODS: a quantitative cross-sectional study was carried out using structured interviews and observation of the work routine of the teams as data collection techniques. Three components were evaluated: the physical environment, material resources, and staff. RESULTS: the findings provided evidence of structural shortcomings in all three components, these being more serious in the Family Health Units. The shortcomings in terms of physical structure were more serious in municipality B, where the items under evaluation were fund in less than 70% of FHUs. In both municipalities, less than 50% of units had basic equipment. In municipality A, all the conventional units had doctors and nurses, while in municipality B, 27.3% of FHUs had no doctor. Shortcomings were revealed that jeopardize biosafety and there was an absence of structures that favor the development of the kind of collective intervention that is necessary for changing the model of care by placing more emphasis on health surveillance. CONCLUSIONS: although the chains of causation that link the structure of health services to their effects are complex and involve various factors, the study findings reiterate the need for more attention to be paid to structural components when evaluating health management.
Cross‐Country Listing and Trading Volume: Evidence from the Toronto and Vancouver Stock Exchanges

This study investigates the effects of listing on the U.S. exchanges on trading volume for stocks listed on the two Canadian stock exchanges: the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE) and the Vancouver Stock Exchange (VSE). The results show substantial differences between the two samples. When a TSE security is cross-listed, both trading volume and stock turnover, the number of shares traded as a percentage of number outstanding, almost double their pre-listing levels. In contrast, when a VSE stock is cross-listed, there is only a slight increase in trading volume and a sharp decline in turnover. The TSE is also able to maintain its pre-listing levels of trading volume in cross-listed securities, whereas the VSE loses about half the trading volume in these stocks to the U.S. exchanges. Even after controlling for the firm-specific factors, the Canadian exchange-specific factors remain the dominant factors in explaining the cross-sectional variation in liquidity effects. Neither the differences in trading costs nor in listing and disclosure requirements between the two exchanges explain these results.
Grazing by the intertidal gastropod Melampus coffeus greatly increases mangrove leaf litter degradation rates

Melampus coffeus, a pulmonate gastropod, forages for mangrove leaf litter at low tide and climbs tree trunks to avoid inundation during high tide. Unlike many grazers, these snails can assimilate mangrove leaf material. At Boca Ceiga Bay, Florida, densities of adult snails were high (>100 snails m -2 ) throughout a 130 m wide intertidal zone. A mark-recapture study indicated that over the course of 1 mo 48.6 ± 6.1% of snails returned to their initial tree during high tides, while those that did relocate moved 6.66 ± 0.60 m and were recorded from 33 new trees at high tide. A field experiment comparing tethered leaves with small and large litter bags showed that snail grazing greatly increased the rate of red (Rhizophora mangle) and black (Avicennia germinans) leaf litter breakdown. Grazing by M. coffeus resulted in 90 % weight loss in 26 wk, R. mangle). Another experiment showed greater leaf litter accumulation on the forest floor in plots where M. coffeus was excluded. The decomposition coefficient (k) was lOx greater when M. coffeus grazing was allowed than k for any studies that enclosed leaves in litterbags. During our experiment, M. coffeus consumed an estimated 40.5% of mangrove leaf fall, and 19.8% of leaf litter was exported as particulate or dissolved material. This M. coffeus population can produce an estimated 3 x 10 6 larvae m -2 y -1 , which suggests that the larval pathway is an important conduit of mangrove leaf resources to the estuarine food web.