Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bank business models, managerial discretion and risk e¢ ciency

This paper develops a stochastic-frontier based methodology to jointly test for market monitoring and in‡uencing in a sample of US Bank Holding Companies (BHC) over the period 1991-2008. First, we con…rm the existence of market monitoring by linking stock market-based risk measures to business model indicators and fundamental bank characteristics (in particular, constituents of the acronym CAMEL). Second, we interpret distance from the e¢ cient frontier as a measure of ine¢ ciency relative to its best performing peers, and show that the variance of this component is predominantly related to management discretion and opaqueness, and less so to business complexity. Finally, we …nd much stronger evidence for the in‡uencing channel of market discipline compared to most of the existing literature. Banks tend to improve their operating performance and contain their risk in response to a deteriorating risk-ine¢ ciency score.
Modeling the Inflation Rate in Jamaica: The Role of Monetary Indicators.

Controlling inflation has been a high priority of many countries, especially those with small open economies since the early 1970s when oil prices soared to record high levels. In this paper, the bases for the role of monetary aggregates in forecasting the inflation rate are reviewed. It is argued that money can act as a useful information variable in a world in which a number of indicators are imperfectly observed. Therefore, the paper discusses the role of excess money a reference value or benchmark for money in episodes of heightened financial uncertainty. Excess money is measured as the difference between the actual money stock and its fundamental value, the latter determined by a money demand function. The out-of sample forecasting performance is compared to a widely used alternative of monetary aggregate, the growth in the money supply. The results indicate that monetary indicators are useful to predict inflation, especially if the forecasting equations are based on the growth in money supply (M3).
Devonian stratigraphy and depositional environments in proximity of the Sub-Carpathian Arch: Lachowice 7 well, southern Poland

The Devonian interval in the Lachowice 7 deep well section has been subdivided into six lithostratigraphic units representing probable Upper Emsian (unit A), Middle Devonian (units B and C) to almost entire Frasnian (units D-F). Middle to Upper Devonian facies are interpreted as deposited in proximal or central parts of an attached carbonate platform or ramp. Correlations with sections situated to the north support earlier concepts of southward shallowing of depositional environments towards the Sub-Carpathian Arch. At the same time, patterns of thickness and facies changes suggest that the Devonian basin extended at least few tens of kilometres to the south of the present erosional edge beneath the Carpathian thrust sheets.
Convective mass transfer from a submerged drop in a thin falling film

We investigate the fluid mechanics of removing a passive tracer contained in small, thin, viscous drops attached to a flat inclined substrate using thin gravity-driven film flows. We focus on the case where the drop cannot be detached either partially or completely from the surface by the mechanical forces exerted by the cleaning fluid on the drop surface. Instead, a convective mass transfer establishes across the drop–film interface and the dilute passive tracer dispersed in the drop diffuses into the film flow, which then transports them away. The Péclet number for the passive tracer in the film phase is very high, whereas the Péclet number in the drop phase varies from $\mathit{Pe}_{d}\approx 10^{-2}$ to $1$ . The characteristic transport time in the drop is much larger than in the film. We model the mass transfer of the passive tracer from the bulk of the drop phase into the film phase using an empirical model based on an analogy with Newton’s law of cooling. This simple empirical model is supported by a theoretical model solving the quasi-steady two-dimensional advection–diffusion equation in the film, coupled with a time-dependent one-dimensional diffusion equation in the drop. We find excellent agreement between our experimental data and the two models, which predict an exponential decrease in time of the tracer concentration in the drop. The results are valid for all drop and film Péclet numbers studied. The overall transport characteristic time is related to the drop diffusion time scale, as diffusion within the drop is the limiting process. This result remains valid even for $\mathit{Pe}_{d}\approx 1$ . Finally, our theoretical model predicts the well-known relationship between the Sherwood number and the Reynolds number in the case of a well-mixed drop $\mathit{Sh}\propto \mathit{Re}_{L}^{1/3}=({\it\gamma}L^{2}/{\it\nu}_{f})^{1/3}$ , based on the drop length $L$ , film shear rate ${\it\gamma}$ and film kinematic viscosity ${\it\nu}_{f}$ . We show that this relationship is mathematically equivalent to a more physically intuitive relationship $\mathit{Sh}\propto \mathit{Re}_{{\it\delta}}$ , based on the diffusive boundary-layer thickness ${\it\delta}$ . The model also predicts a correction in the case of a non-uniform drop concentration. The correction depends on $Re_{{\it\delta}}$ , the film Schmidt number, the drop aspect ratio and the diffusivity ratio between the two phases. This prediction is in remarkable agreement with experimental data at low drop Péclet number. It continues to agree as $\mathit{Pe}_{d}$ approaches $1$ , although the influence of the Reynolds number increases such that $\mathit{Sh}\propto \mathit{Re}_{{\it\delta}}$ .
Protective Role of Antigens from Peritoneal Exudates of Infected Mice against Toxoplasmosis

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that infects all mammalian cells. Several antigens such as excreted/secr eted antigens have been identified as a potential vaccine candidate. Objective: To determine how excreted/secreted antigens from peritoneal exudates of infected mice (mESA) stimulate cell-mediated immune responses and induce protective immunity against toxoplasmosis in the murine model. Methods: The supernatants produced from the peritoneal fluids, were fractionated by precipitation in ammonium sulphate solution (30-80% saturated). For induction of cell-mediated immune responses, delayed type hypersensitivity was measured, in injected footpad. Response to purified antigen was measured by lymphocyte proliferation assay. Nitric oxide was measured by Griess method. For immunization, Balb/c mice were immunized 2 times with mESA, mESA-40% and Toxoplasma Lysate Antigen (TLA). The virulent RH strain of Toxoplasma gondii was used for challenging. Results: The pattern of lymphocyte responsiveness was dependent on the antigen employed. In sensitized mice, those received mESA-40% displayed higher lymphocyte response than mice stimulated by mESA (p<0.05). The highest amounts of nitric oxide were observed in macrophages, which received mESA-40% and mESA (p<0.05). Mice immunized with mESA-40% survived longer than those immunized with mESA and other antigens (p<0.05). Conclusion: As fraction 40% (mESA-40%) showed a good result in induction of cellmediated responses in the murine model, the purification and isolation of the mESA 40% is highly recommended for future study.
HIV co-infection with hepatitis B and C viruses among Nigerian children in an antiretroviral treatment programme

Background. Nigeria has one of the world’s largest burdens of children living with HIV and is highly endemic for hepatitis B. This study set out to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B and C infections among HIV-infected children and to identify the factors associated with these co-infections. Method. We studied 155 HIV-infected children. Information on socio-demographics and history of exposure to risk factors such as scarification, blood transfusion, unsafe injections and circumcision were obtained. All the children were tested for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen and antibodies to hepatitis C. Result. The prevalence of HIV/HBV co-infection was 7.7%, while that of HIV/HCV co-infection was 5.2%. No child was co-infected with all three viruses. Children who were co-infected with HCV were more likely to be older than 5 years. There was no significant association between co-infection with either of the hepatitis viruses and socio-economic status, gender, number of persons living in the household, World Health Organization clinical stage, route of acquisition of HIV, scarification, blood transfusion, unsafe injection or circumcision. Conclusion. The rate of HIV co-infection with hepatitis B and C in children is significant. HIV-infected children should be screened for these viruses. Those found to be negative and not immunised for hepatitis B should be immunised. Since the natural history of these co-infections in children is not known, it is imperative that affected patients be followed up adequately.
Rare 𝐵 𝑠 → 𝛾 ]] Decay in Family Nonuniversal 𝑍 󸀠

medium, provided original work cited. The publication of 3 . The rare 𝐵 𝑠 → 𝛾 ]] decay with polarized photon is studied in the framework of a family nonuniversal 𝑍 󸀠 model. The branching ratio and photon polarization asymmetry to the model parameters are calculated and compared with the Standard Model. Deviations from the Standard Model will indicate the presence of
RISK ASSESSMENT OF SPIRULINA PLATENSIS AS A SOURCE OF FOOD AND FEED ADDITIVES

Egyptian isolate of Spirulina platensis was cultivated in closed and open systems using modified BG-11 medium. Regardless the cultivation conditions, protein represented the highest component (50.6 - 57.7%) followed by carbohydrates (12.4 - 18-4%), ash (10.7%), total lipids (7.3-8.1%), moisture (7.1%) and crude fiber (4.1-5.7%). The chemical composition of Spirulina in closed system characterized by its high content of protein, subsequently amino acids and lipids. Although, results of the risk assessment of Spirulina from both systems, performed during this study, indicated that this product is safe for food or feed consumption. It was found that Spirulina from open system was more subjected to contamination by several microorganisms and heavy metals. It was concluded that biogenic amines should be taken into account as potential hazards notably with mis-handled product.
Is the Nigerian Stock Market Efficient? Pre and Post 2007-2009 Meltdown Analysis

Abstract Efficient market hypothesis asserts movements in asset prices are due to significant changes in information. The financial crisis of 2007-2009 originated from subprime mortgages in the United States and affected African countries through local stock markets. This study evaluates the Nigerian stock market efficiency in the pre and post financial meltdown of 2007-2009. GARCH models under three error distributional assumptions were used. The data covers January 2010 to December 2016 divided into pre and post meltdown. Findings indicate that in the pre and post meltdown, the Nigerian stock market is inefficient in the weak form while using the meltdown as event window, the market is efficient in the semi-strong form. It was recommended that prompt release of financial information by quoted firms should be on-line real time and mandatory to discourage rumour and speculative activities. Authority should not only spell out punishments but should be strict and firm about it.
Novel thermophilic bacteria producing nitrile-degrading enzymes.

The first known report of the isolation of thermophilic bacteria which produce nitrile-degrading enzymes is presented. One of the strains isolated was studied in detail. Strain Dac521, classified as Bacillus pallidus, was capable of growth on acetonitrile, benzonitrile, propionitrile, acetamide, benzamide and propionamide as the sole carbon and nitrogen source in minimal nutrient media. The strain produced separate aliphatic-nitrile (e.g. acetonitrile)- and aromatic-nitrile (e.g. benzonitrile)-degrading activities. Acetonitrile-degrading activity was produced constitutively and enzyme production was not enhanced by the addition of substrate. Under conditions where benzonitrile was the sole carbon and nitrogen source in minimal nutrient media, acetonitrile-degrading enzyme activity was completely inhibited and benzonitrile-degrading activity was induced. Growth on substrates as sole carbon and nitrogen sources, together with the substrate specificity of cell-free extracts, suggested that acetonitrile and benzonitrile degradation may have occurred via nitrile hydratase and nitrilase pathways, respectively. Both the acetonitrile- and benzonitrile-degrading enzyme systems were significantly more thermostable in whole-cell preparations and cell-free extracts compared to their mesophilic counterparts.
LOCAL DETERMINATION OF VELOCITY AND DISPERSIVITY IN GROUNDWATER FLOW

Velocities and dispersivities are both pre-requisite in view to simulate tracer or contaminant spreading in the field as a dispersion phenomenon. Moreover they should be determined under field conditions. According to these premisses, we conducted two experiments to perform their measurements. The first one consisted of injecting water in the flow field from a well and then observing evolution towards the new steady state. The hydraulic diffusivity was evaluated by fitting the experimental heads h(r,t) to the computed ones. Once the injection cutoff we supposed all water discharging in the aquifer originates from the well in view to deduce the hydraulic conductivity and the the specific yield . Then the velocity was computed directly on use of Darcy’s equation. The second experiment is a single well injection test with two observation wells. It was monitored by measuring the electrical resistivity of the salt tracer in the piezometers. Horizontal dispersivity is determined by adjusting experimental and numerical data.The value thus obtained is close to the one estimated with the analytical models. Transverse dispersivity is computed with the semi-analytical formulae.
Assessing the Public Health Risk of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli by Use of a Rapid Diagnostic Screening Algorithm

ABSTRACT Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is an enteropathogen of public health concern because of its ability to cause serious illness and outbreaks. In this prospective study, a diagnostic screening algorithm to categorize STEC infections into risk groups was evaluated. The algorithm consists of prescreening stool specimens with real-time PCR (qPCR) for the presence of stx genes. The qPCR-positive stool samples were cultured in enrichment broth and again screened for stx genes and additional virulence factors (escV, aggR, aat, bfpA) and O serogroups (O26, O103, O104, O111, O121, O145, O157). Also, PCR-guided culture was performed with sorbitol MacConkey agar (SMAC) and CHROMagar STEC medium. The presence of virulence factors and O serogroups was used for presumptive pathotype (PT) categorization in four PT groups. The potential risk for severe disease was categorized from high risk for PT group I to low risk for PT group III, whereas PT group IV consists of unconfirmed stx qPCR-positive samples. In total, 5,022 stool samples of patients with gastrointestinal symptoms were included. The qPCR detected stx genes in 1.8% of samples. Extensive screening for virulence factors and O serogroups was performed on 73 samples. After enrichment, the presence of stx genes was confirmed in 65 samples (89%). By culture on selective media, STEC was isolated in 36% (26/73 samples). Threshold cycle (CT ) values for stx genes were significantly lower after enrichment compared to direct qPCR (P < 0.001). In total, 11 (15%), 19 (26%), 35 (48%), and 8 (11%) samples were categorized into PT groups I, II, III, and IV, respectively. Several virulence factors (stx 2, stx 2a, stx 2f, toxB, eae, efa1, cif, espA, tccP, espP, nleA and/or nleB, tir cluster) were associated with PT groups I and II, while others (stx 1, eaaA, mch cluster, ireA) were associated with PT group III. Furthermore, the number of virulence factors differed between PT groups (analysis of variance, P < 0.0001). In conclusion, a diagnostic algorithm enables fast discrimination of STEC infections associated with a high to moderate risk for severe disease (PT groups I and II) from less-virulent STEC (PT group III).
Radiative forcing of the desert aerosol at Ouarzazate (Morocco)

The atmospheric aerosol contributes to the definition of the climate with direct effect, the diffusion and absorption of solar and terrestrial radiations, and indirect, the cloud formation process where aerosols behave as condensation nuclei and alter the optical properties. Satellites and ground-based networks (solar photometers) allow the terrestrial aerosol observation and the determination of impact. Desert aerosol considered among the main types of tropospheric aerosols whose optical property uncertainties are still quite important. The analysis concerns the optical parameters recorded in 2015 at Ouarzazate solar photometric station (AERONET/PHOTONS network, http://aeronet.gsfc.nasa.gov/) close to Saharan zone. The daily average aerosol optical depthτ aer at 0. 5μm, are relatively high in summer and less degree in spring (from 0.01 to 1.82). Daily average of the Angstrom coefficients α vary between 0.01 and 1.55. The daily average of aerosol radiative forcing at the surface range between -150W/m 2 and -10 W/m 2 with peaks recorded in summer, characterized locally by large loads of desert aerosol in agreement with the advections of the Southeast of Morocco. Those recorded at the Top of the atmosphere show a variation from -74 W/m 2 to +24 W/m 2
Title Optical burst switching with large switching overhead

The optical burst switching (OBS) schemes to date assume that the switching overhead at intermediate nodes is either negligible or can be considered as part of the processing delay of the control packet. In this paper, we will show that the switching overhead can have a significant impact on the performance of OBS. We have also proposed methods to alleviate the problem.
Taxon-specific differences in photoacclimation to fluctuating irradiance in an Antarctic diatom and a green flagellate

Photoacclimation towards rapid changes in irradiance was studied in 2 Antarctic microalgae, the diatom Chaetoceros brevis (Bacillariophyceae) and the flagellate Pyramimonas sp. (Prasinophyceae). Both species were subjected to 3 different light regimes. Two regimes of vertical mixing (1:1 h and 3:3 h high light:low light) were superimposed on a diurnal light cycle mimicking the solar sine. For both species, maximum growth was recorded at the fastest rates of light fluctua- tion (1:1 h). The light regimes had a minor effect on growth rates of the flagellate but growth in the diatom was reduced significantly at moderate rates of mixing (3:3 h). While xanthophyll cycling was active in both species, fluorescence analysis with a dual-modulated fluorometer showed that down-regulation of photosynthetic efficiency was more pronounced in Pyramimonas sp. (ca. 50%) than in C. brevis (ca. 30%). The ratio of photoprotectors to chlorophyll a was not significantly affected by the light regime, neither in the flagellate nor in the diatom. In the flagellate, state tran- sition offered an additional means of energy dissipation during the periods of high irradiance. The diatom apparently acclimated to the average light intensity received and not to the maximum irra- diance. It can be reasoned that this strategy led to photodamage during the 3:3 h cycling. It is argued that enhanced maintenance costs associated with necessary repair processes can explain the reduced growth rate that was observed. The ecological consequences for large bloom-forming diatom species are briefly discussed.
SEARCH FOR GAMMA-RAY EMISSION FROM X-RAY-SELECTED SEYFERT GALAXIES WITH FERMI-LAT

We report on a systematic investigation of the γ-ray properties of 120 hard X-ray-selected Seyfert galaxies classified as “radio-quiet” objects, utilizing the three-year accumulation of Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) data. Our sample of Seyfert galaxies is selected using the Swift Burst Alert Telescope 58 month catalog, restricting the analysis to the bright sources with average hard X-ray fluxes F14 − 195 keV ⩾ 2.5 × 10−11 erg cm−2 s−1 at high Galactic latitudes (|b| > 10°). In order to remove “radio-loud” objects from the sample, we use the “hard X-ray radio loudness parameter,” RrX, defined as the ratio of the total 1.4 GHz radio to 14–195 keV hard X-ray energy fluxes. Among 120 X-ray bright Seyfert galaxies with RrX <10−4, we did not find a statistically significant γ-ray excess (TS > 25) positionally coincident with any target Seyferts, with possible exceptions of ESO 323–G077 and NGC 6814. The mean value of the 95% confidence level γ-ray upper limit for the integrated photon flux above 100 MeV from the analyzed Seyferts is ≃ 4 × 10−9 photons cm−2 s−1 , and the upper limits derived for several objects reach ≃ 1 × 10−9 photons cm−2 s−1 . Our results indicate that no prominent γ-ray emission component related to active galactic nucleus activity is present in the spectra of Seyferts around GeV energies. The Fermi-LAT upper limits derived for our sample probe the ratio of γ-ray to X-ray luminosities Lγ/LX < 0.1, and even <0.01 in some cases. The obtained results impose novel constraints on the models for high-energy radiation of “radio-quiet” Seyfert galaxies.
SALT long-slit spectroscopy of LBQS 2113-4538: variability of the Mg II and Fe II component

The Mg II line is of extreme importance in intermediate redshift quasars since it allows us to measure the black hole mass in these sources and to use these sources as probes of the distribution of dark energy in the Universe, as a complementary tool to SN Ia. Reliable use of Mg II requires a good understanding of all the systematic effects involved in the measurement of the line properties, including the contamination by Fe II UV emission. We performed three spectroscopic observations of a quasar LBQS 2113-4538 (z = 0.956) with the SALT telescope separated in time by several months and we analyze in detail the mean spectrum and the variability in the spectral shape. We show that even in our good-quality spectra the Mg II doublet is well fit by a single Lorentzian shape. We tested several models of the Fe II pseudo-continuum and showed that one of them well represents all the data. The amplitudes of both components vary in time, but the shapes do not change significantly. The measured line width of LBQS 2113-4538 identifies this object as a class A quasar. The upper limit of $3\%$ for the contribution of the Narrow Line Region (NLR) to Mg II may suggest that the separation of the Broad Line Region (BLR) and NLR disappears in this class of objects.
Angle calculations for a (2+3)-type diffractometer: focus on area detectors

Angle calculations for a (2+3)-type diffractometer are presented with comprehensive derivations for both cases of either a vertical or horizontal sample configuration. This work focuses on some particular aspects of using area detectors in surface X-ray diffraction, namely the role of the detector rotation and the direct conversion of the angle-resolved diffraction signal recorded by the detector into a two-dimensional slice through reciprocal space.