Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Impact of the Carbon Market on the Stock Price of Electricity Companies : Further Evidence from the European Context

The electricity sector is one of the most important participants in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS). This study provides further evidence on the effect of the carbon pricing on the stock returns of electricity companies in the EU-ETS. The investigation is undertaken in both phases I and II of the EU-ETS using multivariate M-GARCH approaches which include a multivariate CCC-GARCH and DCC-M-GARCH methods. The results show that the carbon market significantly affected the returns of electricity companies in Phase 1, but not in phase II of the EU-ETS. The relationship between carbon prices and electricity prices was found to be positive and symmetric. However, no volatility spillover effect between the carbon market and electricity returns was found in Phase I, whereas such effect existed in Phase II and one which was positive. These results imply that in the short run, electricity companies are significantly affected by the carbon market but this effect diminishes over the long run. These also imply that the risk-return relationship does not seem to be in full operation in relation to the link between the carbon market and capital markets.
Increasing reproductive rates of both sexes in dairy cattle breeding optimizes response to selection

It was reasoned that technologies that increase the reproductive rate of males and females in dairy cattle would realize higher responses to selection. The authors tested this hypothesis using deterministic simulation of breeding schemes that resembled those of dairy cattle in Kenya. The response to selection was estimated for four breeding schemes and strategies. Two breeding schemes were simulated, based on artificial insemination (AI) and multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) reproductive technologies. The strategies were defined according to the use of conventional semen (CS) and X-chromosome-sorted semen (XS). The four strategies therefore were AI with CS (AI-CS) and XS (AI-XS), and MOET with CS (MOET-CS) and XS (MOET-XS). The four strategies were simulated based on the current dairy cattle breeding goal in Kenya. A two-tier closed nucleus breeding programme was considered, with 5% of the cows in the nucleus and 95% in the commercial. Dissemination of superior genetic materials in the nucleus was based on all four breeding strategies, while in the commercial only the AI-CS strategy was considered. The strategies that increased the reproductive rates of both males and females (MOET-CS and MOET-XS) realized 2.1, 1.4, and 1.3 times more annual genetic gain, return and profitability per cow, per year, respectively, than strategies that increased the reproductive rates only of males (AI-CS and AI-XS). The use of CS or XS, however, did not affect response to selection in the two schemes. The findings demonstrate that reproductive technologies such as MOET maximize response to selection in dairy cattle breeding. Keywords: artificial insemination, conventional semen, deterministic simulation, multiple ovulation and embryo transfer, X-chromosome-sorted semen
LOGARITHMIC DURATION TO PREDICT AND DISCRIMINATE SINGLETON AND GEMINATE CONSONANTS IN JAPANESE

Appropriate acoustic cues to predict and discriminate singleton and geminate consonants in Japanese were identified by analyzing the durations of the consonants and their anteroposterior segments. Twelve minimal pairs of words with singleton and geminate of /k/ and /s/ in a carrier sentence were pronounced by 20 native Japanese speakers at various speaking rates. Regression and discriminant analyses revealed that logarithmic duration was better than raw duration to predict and discriminate the distributions of singleton and geminate consonants. The best acoustic cues were a combination of the logarithmic durations of closure and frication of singleton and geminate consonants, and the logarithmic average duration of morae in the preceding phrase. It is suggested that speech planning of singleton and geminate consonants is based on their logarithmic durations and the speaking rate associated with the mora unit.
Developing price discovery measures within a volatility-based model ( Second Draft , 08 / 28 / 2012 ) *

Using a volatility-based model, our study extends the Hasbrouck (1995) information share methodology in three ways: uniquely determining the information share, proposing a time dependent information share, and adjusting the information share to volatility spillover among idiosyncratic shocks. When applying the model to Chinese stock index and index futures markets, we are able to discover the dual role played by liquidity and uncover the complex pattern of price discovery process. We also find that the market information shares experienced turbulent changes at the beginning of the infancy stage of the futures market. JEL CODE: C32, C51, G13, G14
Low level laser therapy : a practical introduction

Section I: Historical Background and Theory: BASICS: Historical Background Basic Principles of Laser Generation Light and Laser Delivery Systems Laser/Tissue Interaction Beginnings of Photobioactivation LASER PARAMETERS AND THE POWER CONCEPT: Inherent Parameters User-Controlled Parameters Quantification of Parameters Reversible and Irreversible Photobioreactions Photoactivation and the Arndt- Schultz Law PHOTOBIOACTIVATION: LLLT Photobiology - Mechanisms and Pathways Basic in vivo Research in LLLT CONTACT AND NONCONTACT TECHNIQUES: History of LLLT Noncontact Technique Contact Technique Combination Technique Section II: Clinical Applications of Noncontact LLLT: THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS OF THE NONCONTACT TECHNIQUE: Static Technique Scanning Technique PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF NONCONTACT LLLT IN VARIOUS FIELDS: Laser Acupuncture Anaesthesia Low Level Laser Therapy in Veterinary Practice on Standardbred Horses Section III: Clinical Applications of Contact LLLT: THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF THE CONTACT TECHNIQUE: Objective Evaluation of the Diode Laser in the Revitalisation of Failing Grafts and Flaps Colour Abnormality Configurational Abnormalities Allergies Pain Section IV: Laser Safety and Instrumentation: SAFETY WITH LLLT: Potential Hazards LLLT - CURRENT INSTRUMENTATION LLLT - WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS: LLLT and Cancer Pain LLLT and Autoimmunology LLLT and Selective Photochemotherapy LLLT and Dentistry LLLT and Cosmetic Surgery LLLT and Senile Dementia Conclusions.
CARE OF THE AGING PATIENT: FROM EVIDENCE TO ACTION ManagementofHumanImmunodeficiencyVirus Infection in Advanced Age

Mr H is a 74-year-old man who was diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in 1984. He has chronic fatigue and has experienced a 10-lb weight loss over the past 2 years. His current CD4 T-lymphocyte count is 440 cells/ L, with a nadir of 140 cells/ L occurring in 1991. He has never had opportunistic infections. His plasma HIV RNA level (viral load) has been undetectable since 1996. Mr H participated in the original zidovudine (AZT) monotherapy clinical trial in 1988 and subsequently received a total of 7 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and 6 protease inhibitors before starting his current regimen of emtricitabine/ tenofovir and ritonavir-boosted fosamprenavir. He receives treatment at an infectious disease clinic in an urban, tertiary care Veterans Affairs hospital, where his follow-up is led by Dr L and a team that includes an infectious diseases pharmacist, a nutritionist, and a social worker. Mr H vigilantly adheres to his antiretroviral regimen. Even when offered new antiretroviral medications, he prefers to stay with his current regimen. He has hypertension, hyperlipidemia, osteoporosis, depression, atherosclerotic subclavian steal syndrome with stent placement, chronic kidney insufficiency, adenomatous colon polyps, and past anal squamous cell carcinoma. His other medications are rosuvastatin (hyperlipidemia), testosterone (low testosterone level), bupropion (depression), fenofibrate (hypertriglyceridemia), and lorazepam (anxiety; taken as needed). Due to episodic dizziness and fluctuating blood pressure, hydrochlorothiazide and metoprolol were recently discontinued. Mr H was a computer systems analyst until his late 40s when he was diagnosed with HIV. He lives with a partner, but voices concerns for social isolation from the deaths of many HIV-positive acquaintances. He participates in a support group of older adults with HIV run by a psychologist. Mr H is a former smoker and drinks a glass of wine with dinner. He never drank alcohol heavily and never used recreational drugs. He is currently not sexually active. Initial evaluation of his fatigue and weight loss revealed no anemia and his pharmacist found no medication-based association with his symptoms. Dr L discussed testing for malignancy or other disorders causing weight loss, but Mr H initially declined. Mr H retains medical decision-making capacity and has specified that he not receive resuscitation or intubation should he experience a cardiopulmonary arrest.
ASPERGER AUTISM AND IRONY: A PERCEPTION EXPERIMENT

One of the frequently cited characteristics of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is their alleged inability to detect verbal irony. The purpose of the present study was to test this claim. We studied 13 male adolescent patients who had been diagnosed with Asperger autism and who were all living in an institution. They were asked to rate a total of one hundred single-word utterances as “serious” or “not serious”. Given the brevity of the stimulus material, this task can be regarded as extremely difficult. Stimuli were taken from a previous experiment so that perception rates for typically developed controls existed. The Asperger patients turned out to be significantly better at identifying sincere statements than the controls were, whereas the latter were more successful at identifying sarcastic utterances, this difference falling short of significance, though. Possible reasons for these results will be explored.
Effect of level and time of nitrogen fertilizer application and cutting height on yield and yield component of rice ratooning

In order to study the effect of level and time of nitrogen fertilizer application and cutting height on yield and yield component of rice ratooning (Tarom genotype, a traditional cultivar in Mazandaran Province, Iran) an experiment was conducted at Rice Research Institute of Iran, Deputy of Mazandaran, Amol. The experiment was set-up in factorial design based on randomized completely block design with 3 replications. The level of nitrogen fertilizer in four levels (0, 11.5, 23 and 34.5 kg N ha), time of nitrogen application in two levels (immediately and one month after main crop harvest) and cutting height in three levels (0, 20 and 40 cm from above ground) were the treatments. The results showed that different levels of N fertilizer did not significantly affect ratoon yield, harvest index, panicle number per meter squared, grain number per panicle, filled grain number and 1000-grain weight but N applied immediately after main crop harvest significantly affected ratoon yield and grain number per panicle. Cutting height had a significant effect on ratoon plant height, grain number per panicle and filled grain number. Ratoon yield, grain number per panicle and filled grain number was significantly higher when the main crop was cut at 40 cm above ground.
Trends in the Returns to Social Assimilation : Earnings Premiums among U . S . Immigrants that Marry Natives

Trends in the Returns to Social Assimilation: Earnings Premiums among U.S. Immigrants that Marry Natives Previous studies show that immigrants married to natives earn higher wages than immigrants married to other immigrants. Using data from the 1980-2000 U.S. censuses and the 20052010 American Community Surveys, we show that these wage premiums have increased over time. Our evidence suggests that the trends cannot be explained by changes in the attributes of immigrants that tend to marry natives but are instead most likely a result of increasing returns to the characteristics of immigrants married to natives. Because immigrants married to natives tend to have more schooling, part of the increasing premium can be explained by increases in the returns to a college education. However, we find increasing intermarriage premiums even when allowing the returns to schooling as well as English-speaking ability to vary over time. We believe these patterns are driven by changes in technology and globalization which have made communication and management skills more valuable in the U.S. labor market. JEL Classification: J12, J24, J31, J61
Athletic Participation and Academic Success in Junior College

The success or lack of success for student-athletes in the classroom has been a debate for a long time. Does athletic participation help or hinder academic success? Research is somewhat conflicted at the high school and college level whether athletic participation leads to higher academic achievement. A study done at the high school level seems to show some correlation, but studies done at the college level are somewhat inconclusive. This project was an attempt to clarify what happens when students participate in collegiate athletics and what effect that participation has on academic achievement. This project helped to clarify the effect athletic participation has on student-athlete academic success across various levels of college athletics. This was measured using the most common method for judging academic success: grade point average (GPA). The project then hypothesized what might happen at the junior college level and provided a framework for future research.
AUTOMATIC SPEECH INTELLIGIBILITY SCORING OF HEAD AND NECK CANCER PATIENTS WITH DEEP NEURAL NETWORKS

In this paper, we propose an automatic method of measuring the intelligibility of head and neck cancer patients’ speech. In a retrospective chart review, speech recordings of 137 individuals treated for oral and oropharyngeal cancer were included. Recordings before the treatment and at various times after the treatment were included. Naive listeners typed the utterances, and the proportion of correctly identified words was used as the measure for intelligibility. Three different neural networks were trained and compared to predict the speech intelligibility using Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCCs), Melfrequency filterbanks, and raw audio as input. These inputs were paired with different network architectures. The network using MFCCs as input and bidirectional long short-term memory (BLSTM) layers provided the best current performance. The model’s prediction was highly correlated with the actual intelligibility score, with a linear correlation coefficient of approximately 0.69. We conclude by discussing future directions and applications for this research.
Neural Japanese Zero Anaphora Resolution using Smoothed Large-scale Case Frames with Word Embedding

This paper presents a Japanese zero anaphora resolution model which deals with both intra-and inter-sentential zero anaphora. Solving inter-sentential anaphora needs to consider a large number of antecedent candidates beyond the sentence boundaries, which is a crucial obstacle for training the model and resolving the anaphora. To cope with this problem, we pro-pose an effective candidate pruning method using case frame information. Also, we introduce a local single-attention RNN for inter-sentential anaphora resolution, allowing the model to consider the distant context from the target predicate. We evaluated the proposed models with a Japanese balanced corpus and conﬁrmed the effectiveness of the candidate pruning by showing 0.056 point increase of accuracy.
Effectiveness of audit and evaluative feedback on the performance of head nurses in shift reporting

Accurate reporting is essential to protect patients from fragmented and hazardous care, and, audit is widely used to measure performance and can be fed back to improve performance. This study investigated the effectiveness of audit and evaluative feedback on the performance of head nurses in shift report. Subject& Methods: 38 head nurses were included in the study; the study was carried out at Ain-Shams University Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. Data collection: Included an audit checklist of the written shift report. Results: none of the head nurses performance had adequate total audit at the pre-intervention phase. However, this increased to reach 100.0% at the post-intervention phase (p<0.001). At the follow-up phase, it decreased to 81.6%, with significantly higher than the pre-intervention phase level (p<0.001). Conclusion: Using audit and evaluative feedback intervention with guidelines can improve the related performance of head nurses. Despite a slight decline at three-month follow-up, the improvement continues to be better compared to baseline. Recommendations: Using audit combined with evaluative feedback in various areas of care to inform quality improvement initiatives. Hospital administration supports in addition to effective and continuous supervision are needed to avoid follow-up declines.
Language Recognition Using Triplet Neural Networks

In this paper, we propose a novel neural network back-end approach based on triplets for the language recognition task, due to its success application in the related field of text-dependent speaker verification. A triplet is a training example constructed of three audio samples; two from the same class and one from a different class. In presenting two pairs of samples to the network, the triplet neural network learns to discriminate between samples from the same languages and pairs of different languages. Triplet-based training optimizes the Area Under the Curve (AUC) in contrast to other triplet loss functions proposed in the literature. The optimization of the AUC as cost function is appropriate for a detection task as it directly correlates with end-use performance of the system. Moreover, we show the importance of defining an appropriate method of triplet selection and how this impacts performance of the system. When benchmarked on the LRE09 database, the new triplet backend demonstrated superior performance compared to traditional back-ends used for language recognition. In addition, we performed an evaluation on the LRE15 and LRE17 databases to check the generalization power of the proposed systems.
Nutrient changes during fermentation of some selected cereals

A study was carried out to investigate the nutritional changes that occur during fermentation of some selected cereals (Maize, Millet and Sorghum). The proximate, mineral and amino acids compositions of both fermented and unfermented samples were carried out. It was discovered that the concentrations of the selected amino acids in the fermented samples and the moisture contents increased significantly (p < 0.05) when compared with that of unfermented samples. But other parameters of the proximate composition and mineral composition were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in unfermented samples when compared with the fermented samples.
Response of market turkey toms to dietary protein and threonine levels in diets containing corn distillers dried grains

The response of market turkey toms to diet threonine level was examined during 8 to 19 wks of age. Diets were formulated to contain 90, 94, 100, and 106% NRC digestible thr from intact protein. In addition, supplemental thr was used to reach 100 or 106% NRC thr. Diets were composed primarily of corn, soybean meal, poultry by-product meal (PBM, 10%) and corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS, 20%). Large White male turkey poults (Nicholas strain) were randomly assigned to pens (10/pen) at 8 wks of age. The treatments were (T): 1. Corn soy control, 100% NRC thr; 2. PBM-DDGS 106% NRC thr; 3. As T2, plus 6% NRC thr; 4. As T2, 100% NRC thr; 5. As T4, plus 6% NRC thr; 6. As T4, plus 12% NRC thr; 7. As T2, 94% NRC thr; 8. As T7 plus 6% NRC thr; 9. As T7 plus 12% NRC thr; 10. As T2, 90% NRC thr; 11. As T10 plus 10% NRC thr. All diets were supplemented as needed with lys and met to meet the specic NRC recommendations for these amino acids. The ratio of calcium: inorganic phosphorus was maintained at 2:1. Each diet was fed to 8 replicate pens. The experimental design was a completely randomized block design. Dietary treatment affected body weight at all ages (P<.0001). BW at 19 wks of age was similar for T 1, 2, 3 and 4. Decreasing diet NRC thr to 94 and 90% signicantly decreased BW while supplementation with thr improved body weight but not to the level of the control at 100% NRC. Increased average daily gain response to supplemental thr (6% NRC thr) was observed for 100, 94, and 90% NRC thr treatment groups during 8-11 and 11-14 wks of age; and, only in the 90% NRC thr treatment during 14-17 and 17-19 wks of age. Improved feed efciency in response to supplemental thr (6% NRC thr) was observed for the 94% NRC treatment during 8-11 wks; and, for the 90% NRC thr group during 8-11 and 17-19 wks of age. In diets containing a large amount of alternative protein (10% PBM and 20% DDGS), a gain response to supplemental thr was observed when diet thr from intact protein was less than 106% NRC during 8-11 wks, less than 100 % NRC during 11-14 wks, and less than 94% NRC during 14-19 wks of age.
Consumer adoption of audiobook streaming services

The streaming of audiobooks is a new and fast-growing phenomenon amongst Swedish consumers. There exists a lack of knowledge on this topic as it is previously unexplored within academia. As the audiobook streaming services are growing it is important for providers and competitors to understand the key factors determining usage intention from an end-user’s perspective. This thesis therefore examines what factors influence enduser’s adoption of audiobook streaming-services, the examination extends both for consumers intention to begin using as well as continue using the service. Factors related to the end-user’s usage intention were explored and identified in a Swedish context. A theoretical model consisting of eight hypotheses was constructed to examine the relationships between five variables. The model is based on previous literature of technology adoption and in particular the technology acceptance model (TAM). Additional theory was gathered on previous research on similar technologies such consumers adoption of E-books and E-readers. To achieve the research purpose of the thesis, a quantitative method was used and data was gathered through an online questionnaire with 935 (769 valid) responses. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used with RStudio to test the collected data on our theoretical model. The results showcased that our model was successful in explaining key factors influencing usage intention. The findings indicate that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use influence usage intention positively, while end-user’s attachment to paper books and reading impact usage intention negatively. Further results and the implications of these results are discussed.