Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Asymmetric exchange rate exposure of stock returns: empirical evidence from Chinese industries

Abstract This study explores the asymmetric exchange rate exposure of stock returns building upon the capital asset pricing model (CAPM) framework, using monthly returns of Chinese industry indices. We are interested in estimating long run and short run relationships as well as asymmetric effects. In order to do so, we estimate nonlinear autoregressive distributed lags models to (1) obtain the long run or cointegrated effects and dynamics, (2) be able to mix I(1) and I(0) variables and (3) to split the effect of positive and negative changes in the variables, i.e. asymmetries. In accordance with the existing literature, industry returns are subject to lagged exposure effects, but the asymmetries vary across industries, which could be due to the discrepancies in, amongst others, trade balance and ownership of certain industries. Furthermore, the dynamic multipliers depict that industry returns quickly respond to changes in the exchange rate and correct the disequilibrium within a short time, making the long run exposure to be symmetric or very small. The remaining shocks are mainly explained by the return of market portfolios. This implies that the ongoing restrictions on the RMB daily trading band do indeed protect the Chinese stock market against the effects of currency movements.
Efficient and stable production of Modified Vaccinia Ankara virus in two-stage semi-continuous and in continuous stirred tank cultivation systems

One important aim in cell culture-based viral vaccine and vector production is the implementation of continuous processes. Such a development has the potential to reduce costs of vaccine manufacturing as volumetric productivity is increased and the manufacturing footprint is reduced. In this work, continuous production of Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) virus was investigated. First, a semi-continuous two-stage cultivation system consisting of two shaker flasks in series was established as a small-scale approach. Cultures of the avian AGE1.CR. pIX cell line were expanded in the first shaker, and MVA virus was propagated and harvested in the second shaker over a period of 8–15 days. A total of nine small-scale cultivations were performed to investigate the impact of process parameters on virus yields. Harvest volumes of 0.7–1 L with maximum TCID50 titers of up to 1.0×109 virions/mL were obtained. Genetic analysis of control experiments using a recombinant MVA virus containing green-fluorescent-protein suggested that the virus was stable over at least 16 d of cultivation. In addition, a decrease or fluctuation of infectious units that may indicate an excessive accumulation of defective interfering particles was not observed. The process was automated in a two-stage continuous system comprising two connected 1 L stirred tank bioreactors. Stable MVA virus titers, and a total production volume of 7.1 L with an average TCID50 titer of 9×107 virions/mL was achieved. Because titers were at the lower range of the shake flask cultivations potential for further process optimization at large scale will be discussed. Overall, MVA virus was efficiently produced in continuous and semi-continuous cultivations making two-stage stirred tank bioreactor systems a promising platform for industrial production of MVA-derived recombinant vaccines and viral vectors.
Time-dependent effect of intensity of smoking and of occupational exposure to asbestos on the risk of lung cancer: results from the ICARE case–control study

Objective To estimate the impact of intensity of both smoking and occupational exposure to asbestos on the risk of lung cancer throughout the whole exposure history. Methods Data on 2026 male cases and 2610 male controls came from the French ICARE (Investigation of occupational and environmental causes of respiratory cancers) population-based, case–control study. Lifetime smoking history and occupational history were collected from standardised questionnaires and face-to-face interviews. Occupational exposure to asbestos was assessed using a job exposure matrix. The effects of annual average daily intensity of smoking (reported average number of cigarettes smoked per day) and asbestos exposure (estimated average daily air concentration of asbestos fibres at work) were estimated using a flexible weighted cumulative index of exposure in logistic regression models. Results Intensity of smoking in the 10 years preceding diagnosis had a much stronger association with the risk of lung cancer than more distant intensity. By contrast, intensity of asbestos exposure that occurred more than 40 years before diagnosis had a stronger association with the risk of lung cancer than more recent intensity, even if intensity in the 10 years preceding diagnosis also had a significant effect. Conclusion Our results illustrate the dynamic of the effect of intensity of both smoking and occupational exposure to asbestos on the risk of lung cancer. They confirm that the timing of exposure plays an important role, and suggest that standard analytical methods assuming equal weights of intensity over the whole exposure history may be questionable.
Local Geographical Differences in Adult Body Height in Montenegro

Th e purpose of this research study is to examine body height in both Montenegrin sexes and map local geographical diff erences within both groups. A total of 2088 individuals (981 boys and 1107 girls) participated in this research study, and anthropometrical data were collected from 23 municipalities throughout the country. Th e anthropometric measurements were taken according to the ISAK protocol. Means and standard deviations were calculated for ages and anthropometric variable (body heights) as well as frequencies for the calculation of density of very short and very tall subjects. Th e results revealed that Montenegrin boys are 183.36±6.89 cm tall, while Montenegrin girls are 169.38±6.37 cm tall. Th e results of this study confi rmed our assumption that both men and women in Montenegro are among the tallest people on the planet. However, the regional variation is considerable: from 181.25 cm in the municipality of Cetinje to 185.51 cm in the municipalities of Kolasin and Savnik for males and from 162.53 cm in the municipalities of Plav and Andrijevica to 170.86 cm in the municipality of Niksic for females. Th e measured values of body heights in Montenegro are currently one of the highest in the world, while the secular trend might increase it in the upcoming decades.
Different roles of natural and sexual selection on senescence of plumage colour in the barn swallow

Summary 1. Colour may show effects of senescence because the pigment or structures involved in production of colouration deteriorate with age. 2. We tested this hypothesis by investigating age-related changes in plumage colour for two feather tracts coloured by eumelanin or pheomelanin in a longitudinal study of a cohort of barn swallows Hirundo rustica that reached very old age (at least 5 years). 3. The level of melanization of the throat increased with age in both sexes, but particularly in females. In contrast, the black colour of the plumage of the back was unrelated to age in both sexes. 4. These age-dependent patterns of colouration of different feather tracts of male and female barn swallows suggest that effects of senescence are trait-specific depending on their importance in sexual signalling. The red throat colour based on pheomelanin is involved in sexual selection, with a strong effect in males, but not in females. In contrast, the black colour of the back based on eumelanin is unrelated to sexual selection, but is under natural selection due to intense abrasion of this feather tract. 5. These findings suggest that the relative importance of natural and sexual selection are important determinants of the pattern and rate of senescence of colour.
Comparison of the quantitative buffy coat technique with the conventional thick blood film technique for malaria case detection in the field.

The quantitative buffy coat (QBC) technique was compared with the conventional thick blood film technique in a malaria survey carried out in a mesoendemic area of malaria in Betau, Pahang, Malaysia. The QBC technique was found to be a rapid technique but had a sensitivity of about 56% and a specificity of 95%, using the thick blood film method as the "gold standard". Malaria species identification was unsatisfactory with the QBC technique as it could identify parasites correctly in only about 60% of specimens. It was unable to detect as positive about 58% of specimens which had parasite counts < or = 500 per ul but could detect about 94% of those with counts > 500 per ul. This difference in positive detection rate was significantly different (p < 0.05). It cannot quantify parasitemia easily and the specimens cannot be stored for future reference and for quality control purposes. It is therefore concluded that the QBC technique cannot replace the classical thick blood film technique for use in malaria control programmes. Its use may be appropriate in situations like busy blood banks and outpatient clinics where rapid screening of malaria infection is needed but where experienced malaria microscopists may not be available.
Thermodynamic Picture of Dimer-Mott Organic Superconductors Revealed by Heat Capacity Measurements with External and Chemical Pressure Control

This article reviews and discusses the thermodynamic properties of dimer-Mott-type molecular superconductive compounds with (BEDT-TTF)2X composition, where BEDT-TTF is bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene and X denotes counter-anions, respectively. We focus mainly on the features occurring in the κ-type structure in which the d-wave superconductive phase appears depending on the Coulomb repulsion U and the bandwidth W, which is tunable by external and chemical pressures. First, we report the high-pressure ac (alternating current) calorimetry technique and experimental system constructed to measure single-crystal samples of molecule-based compounds to derive low-temperature thermodynamic parameters. Using extremely small resistance chips as a heater and a thermometer allows four-terminal detection of an accurate temperature and its oscillation in the sample part with sufficient sensitivity. From the analyses of the temperature dependence of the ac heat capacity of κ-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu(NCS)2 under external pressures, we discuss the changes in the peak shape of the thermal anomaly at the superconductive transition temperature Tc at various external pressures p. The rather sharp peak in CpT−1 at Tc = 9.1 K with a strong coupling character at ambient pressure is gradually reduced to weaker coupling as the pressure increases to 0.45 GPa concomitant with suppression of the transition temperature. This feature is compared with the systematic argument of the chemical–pressure effect on the basis of thermal anomalies around the superconductive transition of κ-(BEDT-TTF)2X compounds and other previously studied typical dimer-Mott 2:1 compounds. Finally, the discussion is extended to the chemical pressure effect on the normal state electronic heat capacity coefficient γ obtained by applying magnetic fields higher than Hc2 and the residual γ*, which remains in the superconductive state due to the induced electron density of states around the node structure. From the overall arguments with respect to both chemical and external pressures, we suggest that a crossover of the electronic state inside the superconductive phase occurs and the coupling strength of electron pairs varies from the electron correlation region near the metal-insulator boundary to the band picture region.
Coopetition Strategy—What is in It for All?

Abstract: Coopetition is an increasingly established concept in the literature, with a growing number of empirical works detailing it many facets, results, and nature. Prior research adopts mainly an individual level of analysis, focusing on private benefits. Studies at the collective level of analysis, exploring common benefits arising from coopetition, remain very rare. We address this gap by studying the contribution of coopetition to common benefit generation in the Polish energy balancing market. Our evidence suggests that the more the 31 megastores in Poland coopete, the lower the energy balancing costs they are able to achieve.
A Note on Conjugation Invariants in the Dual Leibniz-Hopf Algebra

The Leibniz-Hopf algebra is the free associative algebra over Z on generators, S 1 ,S 2 ,. with coproduct given by Δ(S n )= S i ⊗ S n−i . We give odd prime and integral cases of some relations in [4]. Mathematics Subject Classification: Primary: 16T05; 57T05
Validating the use of a dumbbell to measure body sway in female Olympic air pistol shooting

The present study validates use of a dumbbell to simulate the air pistol in female Olympic shooting, examining, at the same time, the relation between body sway and performance. The study’s participants were 23 senior female Olympic pistol shooters who competed at a Spanish air pistol championship. The participants’ performance was measured at competition while their COP movements were recorded during two static bipodal balance tests which were performed the day previous to the competition, during the official training time and at the training stands. During one of the tests a 1.5 kg dumbbell was used to simulate the pistol. The calculated Pearson product moment correlations for all variables that refer to the movement of the COP revealed statistically significant correlations between the two tests. Statistically significant inverse linear correlations were also found between performance and COP movements regarding both tests: strong correlations regarding COP movement amplitudes and moderate correlations regarding COP velocities. The study concludes that a) a dumbbell can be validly used to simulate the pistol in female Olympic air pistol shooting, and b) specific balance training programs should be taken into account in order to improve performance in female air pistol shooting.
1   THE MEMBRANE PROXIMAL INTRACELLULAR DOMAIN OF THE EGF RECEPTOR UNDERLIES NEGATIVE COOPERATIVITY IN LIGAND BINDING

1 THE MEMBRANE PROXIMAL INTRACELLULAR DOMAIN OF THE EGF RECEPTOR UNDERLIES NEGATIVE COOPERATIVITY IN LIGAND BINDING Sangeeta Adak, Katherine S. Yang, Jennifer Macdonald-Obermann and Linda J. Pike Washington University School of Medicine, Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics 660 So. Euclid Ave., Box 8231, St. Louis, MO 63110 Running title: Negative cooperativity in EGF binding Address correspondence to: Linda J. Pike, Ph.D, Washington University School of Medicine, Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, 660 So. Euclid, Box 8231, St. Louis, MO 63110. Phone: (314) 362-9502. FAX: (314) 362-7183. E-mail: pike@biochem.wustl. edu. Present address: Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02114
Leading health indicators: a comparison of Hispanics with non-Hispanic whites and non-Hispanic blacks, United States 2003.

OBJECTIVE One of the goals of Healthy People 2010 is to eliminate health disparities among racial/ethnic groups. This study compared Hispanics with non-Hispanic Whites and non-Hispanic Blacks on six leading health indicators (LHIs) by demographics characteristics, access to medical care, and general health status. SETTING Data were gathered from 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a state based random-digit-dialed telephone survey. PARTICIPANTS Respondents were non-institutionalized adults age > or = 18 years. METHODS Respondents were compared by physical activity, smoking, binge drinking, obesity, health insurance coverage, specific source of ongoing care, influenza vaccination within last 12 months, and any pneumococcal vaccination. Logistic regression models were constructed to evaluate racial/ethnic differences in LHIs after adjusting for confounding variables. RESULTS Responses from 235,784 participants were analyzed (Hispanic = 18,929, non-Hispanic White = 202,035, non-Hispanic Black = 14,820). Hispanics did not meet the target of any LHIs. Regardless of educational attainment, and after adjusting for confounders, Hispanics were less likely than non-Hispanic Whites to be moderately physically active, to have healthcare coverage or a specific source of ongoing care, and to have received a pneumococcal vaccination. They were less likely to smoke but equally as likely to have received a flu shot. Hispanics with more than a high school education were equally likely to binge drink but more likely to be obese than non-Hispanic Whites after adjusting for confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS To eliminate the health disparities of Hispanics by 2010, culturally appropriate health education and accessible preventive services are needed.
Personality and Cultural Correlates of Childhood Psychopathology

Cultural pluralism, especially salient in North America, has become a worldwide reality. As a result, collectivistic and individualistic cultures are frequently forced to live side by side. These cultures can be differentiated by their respective values: thus, independence is highly valued in individualistic cultures while interdependence is identified as a main characteristic of collectivistic cultures. Therefore, individual differences (e.g. personality traits and domains of psychopathology) may show theoretically relevant patterns across these cultural groups. We hypothesized that children from collectivistic cultures, relative to children from individualistic cultures, would present with personality profiles often connected to internalizing disorders. Specifically, we proposed that based on the Five Factor Model these children would score higher on Agreeableness and lower on Extraversion, which is consistent with an internalizing personality profile. We also predicted that children from individualistic cultures, relative to children from collectivistic cultures, would present with personality profiles often connected to externalizing disorders. Specifically, we hypothesized that these children would score higher on Extraversion and lower on Agreeableness and Conscientiousness, which is consistent with an externalizing personality profile. We collected data on a large ethnically diverse community-based sample (N=176) of children in middle childhood (primarily ages 9-10). Multivariate tests showed significant differences in personality profiles of different cultural groups. Differences between internalizing and externalizing personality profiles were consistent with our hypotheses. Heterogeneity of personality profiles exhibited by the members of the collectivistic group questioned the categorical construal of individualism/collectivism. The study contributes to a better understanding of personality profiles and psychopathology predisposition of children of migrants to Canada.
Forecasting of cohort fertility under a hierarchical Bayesian approach

Fertility projections are a key determinant of population forecasts, which are widely used by government policy makers and planners. In keeping with the recent literature, we propose an intuitive and transparent hierarchical Bayesian model to forecast cohort fertility. Using Hamiltonian Monte Carlo methods and a data set from the human fertility database, we obtain fertility forecasts for 30 countries. We use scoring rules to assess the predictive accuracy of the forecasts quantitatively; these indicate that our model predicts with an accuracy comparable with that of the best‐performing models in the current literature overall, with stronger performance for countries without a recent structural shift. Our findings support the position of hierarchical Bayesian modelling at the forefront of population forecasting methods.
Possible role of microparticles in neuroimmune signaling of microglial cells

Aim: Submicron fragments termed microparticles (MPs), derived from all major central nervous system cell types including neurons and glia (microglia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes), have emerged as novel intercellular signaling agents. This study tested the hypothesis that MPs derived from activated microglia, which represent the mononuclear phagocyte system in the brain, could induce pro-inflammatory and cytotoxic responses of microglia in an autocrine or paracrine manner. Methods: Human THP-1 monocytic cells were used to model human microglia. MPs derived from these cells were reapplied to THP-1 cells and their secretion of neurotoxins and cytokines was measured. Results: When exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or mitochondrial transcription factor A in combination with interferon (IFN)-γ, THP-1 cells released MPs. When reapplied to THP-1 cells, MPs induced the release of secretions that were toxic to human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, as well as monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. The cytotoxicity of THP-1 cells induced by MPs derived from IFN-γ plus LPS-treated THP-1 donor cells was enhanced in the presence of IFN-γ. The MPs released by THP-1 cells were not directly toxic towards SH-SY5Y cells. Conclusion: Our data support the hypothesis that activated microglia-derived MPs could act as signaling agents that are recognized by microglia to cause pro-inflammatory and cytotoxic responses.
Evidence for persisting with treatment with paracetamol in patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the knees

Although paracetamol is recommended as first line pharmacological therapy for mild to moderate osteoarthritis (OA) of the knees, it is deemed to be not as efficacious as other pharmacological agents. One of the reasons could be due to poor adherence and persistence to therapy. This study examines the efficacy of the early response and the response after four weeks to paracetamol in mild to moderate OA of the knees in daily clinical practice. This is an open label study. Consecutive patients with mild to moderate OA of the knees were given 1.3 grams extended-release paracetamol three times per day for 4 weeks. Pain based on the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) v3 VAS osteoathritis index was used as a measure of efficacy. Serial liver and renal profiles were done for safety monitoring. An early assessment of efficacy was done at week 1 and a later at the end of 4 weeks of therapy. The primary efficacy endpoint was a 30 reduction in global pain score at week 4 compared to baseline Analysis was done using the SPSS Version 18. Thirty patients entered the study. 73.3 were females. Mean age, BMI and duration of OA was 58.5years (SD +/- 6.9), 28.1 kg/m2 (SD +/- 6.4) 22.8 (SD +/- 32.2) months respectively. The mean VAS WOMAC at baseline for pain was 35.4mm (SD +/- 17.5). At the end of the first week of therapy, there was no difference in the WOMAC pain score compared to baseline. (95 CI -0.54-12.1, p=0.07). However by the end of 4 weeks there was a statistically significant 46.6 (95 CI 27.6-72.6, p<0.001) reduction in global pain compared to baseline. An absolute reduction of 16.5mm in global pain (95 CI 9.9-23.0, p<0.001) compared to baseline was also seen. No serious adverse events were encountered. Paracetamol used to treat OA of the knees is not efficacious in the first week of therapy. However persistence with therapy for a further three weeks results in significant reduction in pain. Therefore every effort should be made to ensure persistence with the recommended full four weeks of treatment. Chia Yook Chin, Rabia Khartoum, Mohazmi Mohamed, Nik Sherina Hanafi, Ng Chirk Jenn. Evidence for Persisting with Treatment with Paracetamol in Patients with Mild to Moderate Osteoarthritis of the Knees. Life Sci J 2012;9(3):1131-1137]. (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite. com. 157