Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fundamentals Efficiency of the Italian Stock Market: Some Long Run Evidence

A predictive regression approach is adopted to test fundamental efficiency of the Italian equities market on a new long run (1913 to 1999) time series of returns and fundamentals, namely dividend price, earnings price, and price to book. Univariate and vector autoregression significance is tested with Monte Carlo and bootstrapping simulation methods. Some evidence of predictability of stock returns is found especially with respect to the price to book ratio.
Fermi/LAT counterparts of IceCube neutrinos above 100 TeV

The IceCube Collaboration has published four years of data and the observed neutrino flux is significantly in excess of the expected atmospheric background. Due to the steeply falling atmospheric background spectrum, events at the highest energies are most likely extraterrestrial. In our previous approach we have studied blazars as the possible origin of the High-Energy Starting Events (HESE) neutrino events at PeV energies. In this work we extend our study to include all HESE neutrinos (which does not include IC 170922A) at or above a reconstructed energy of 100 TeV, but below 1 PeV. We study the X-ray andγ-ray data of all (∼200) 3LAC blazars that are positionally consistent with the neutrino events above 100 TeV to determine the maximum neutrino flux from these sources. This larger sample allows us to better constrain the scaling factor between the observed and maximum number of neutrino events. We find that when we consider a realistic neutrino spectrum and other factors, the number of neutrinos is in good agreement with the detected number of IceCube HESE events. We also show that there is no direct correlation betweenFermi/LATγ-ray flux and the IceCube neutrino flux and that the expected number of neutrinos is consistent with the non-detection of individual bright blazars.
A new kentriodontine dolphin from the middle Miocene of Portugal

A nearly complete skull, a partial left scapula, five lumbar vertebrae, and some fragments of ribs of a medium−sized kentriodontid dolphin (Cetacea, Odontoceti) discovered in the middle Miocene of Setubal Peninsula, Lower Tagus Basin, Portugal, are herein assigned to a new genus and species, Tagicetus joneti. Within the grade−level family Kentrio− dontidae, the new taxon is referred to the specifically and ecologically diversified subfamily Kentriodontinae, essentially defined by a well−developed posterolateral projection of the nasal. The elongated rostrum, the constriction of the asym− metric premaxillae at the base of the rostrum, the anteriorly elongated palatines, and the elevated vertex of T. joneti sug− gest closer affinities with the larger, more derived Macrokentriodon morani, from the middle Miocene of Maryland (USA). Among other features, T. joneti differs from the latter in having more numerous maxillary teeth and shorter zygomatic processes of the squamosals. Besides providing additional indications about the evolutionary trends within the Kentriodontinae, this occurrence constitutes the first record of the subfamily from the east coast of the North Atlantic based on a nearly complete skull. Considering their morphological diversity and wide geographic range, the Kentrio− dontinae may have constituted one of the dominant groups of Miocene oceanic dolphins.
Systematic Thinking Underlying People with Diabetes’ Beliefs on Health Outcomes: An Information Integration Theory Approach

A sample of 76 older adults (27 with diabetes and 49 without diabetes) were selected to judge three information factors, metamemory related to—drug organization—stress and physical activity in relation to their perception of self-care. In order to do so, an Integration Information Theory was considered to determine systematic cognitive algebra rules underlying judgment about 24 different health self-care scenarios. Results indicate that older adults without diabetes use a summative cognitive rule to integrate relevant health information but older adults with diabetes do not. Both groups agreed that metamemory was the most relevant factor to their self-care followed by stress and physical activity. However, valuation of these factors does depend on the type of group. Implications of these results to healthcare a behavioral nursing intervention are discussed in this paper.
Algae Drive Enhanced Darkening of Bare Ice on the Greenland Ice Sheet

Surface ablation of the Greenland ice sheet is amplified by surface darkening caused by light‐absorbing impurities such as mineral dust, black carbon, and pigmented microbial cells. We present the first quantitative assessment of the microbial contribution to the ice sheet surface darkening, based on field measurements of surface reflectance and concentrations of light‐absorbing impurities, including pigmented algae, during the 2014 melt season in the southwestern part of the ice sheet. The impact of algae on bare ice darkening in the study area was greater than that of nonalgal impurities and yielded a net albedo reduction of 0.038 ± 0.0035 for each algal population doubling. We argue that algal growth is a crucial control of bare ice darkening, and incorporating the algal darkening effect will improve mass balance and sea level projections of the Greenland ice sheet and ice masses elsewhere.
Late Pleistocene Environmental Factors defining the Black Sea, and Submerged Landscapes on the Western Continental Shelf

The Black Sea semi-enclosed basin is bounded by Europe, Asia Minor and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosporus Strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the Dardanelles Strait connects it to the Aegean Sea region of the Mediterranean. For about 15 years the sedimentary systems of the northwestern part of the Black Sea extending from the continental shelf and slope down to the deep-sea zone have been studied using geophysical and coring techniques. These results provide a robust record of water-level fluctuations in the Black Sea since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and thereby shed new light on its disputed aspects. The deep-sea fan studies demonstrate that the last channel-levee system on the Danube fan developed during the LGM with a water level about 120 m lower than today
Optical observations of enhanced activity of the 2005 Draconid meteor shower

Context. The enhanced activity of the Draconid meteor shower was observed on October 8, 2005 using video and photographic cameras. Aims. The aim of this paper is to use a higher than usual number of recorded meteors to look at some physical properties of the Draconid meteoroids, to describe the activity profile, and to infer meteor orbits. Methods. Video data on meteors are used for the determination of the meteor shower activity. Double station data provide precise beginning heights of the meteors as well as their radiants and orbits. Beginning heights and light curves of all meteors are used for investigation of meteoroid properties. Results. Only the descending branch of the enhanced activity was observed between 17:30 and 19 UT. The mass distribution index is similar to the 1998 return. Beginning heights of the Draconid meteors are several kilometres higher in comparison with other meteors of similar velocity. Light curves are nearly symmetrical, with a slight preference of early maxima. Both results are consistent with the very fragile nature of Draconid meteoroids.
Modeling and Comparing Dependencies in Multivariate Risk Portfolios

Abstract In this paper we investigate multivariate risk portfolios, where the risks are dependent. By providing some natural models for risk portfolios with the same marginal distributions we are able to compare two portfolios with different dependence structure with respect to their stop-loss premiums. In particular, some comparison results for portfolios with two-point distributions are obtained. The analysis is based on the concept of the so-called supermodular ordering. We also give some numerical results which indicate that dependencies in risk portfolios can have a severe impact on the stop-loss premium. In fact, we show that the effect of dependencies can grow beyond any given bound.
Military Keynesianism: An Assessment

The recent recession has seen something of resurgence in the debate over military Keynesianism. Recent commentators who should no better have claimed that it would make sense to stimulate the US economy through increases in military spending, as though this has not been a commonly contested view over the last 40 years. A large literature has debated the economic effects of military spending and while it has reached no consensus, there is also little support for any belief that military spending is a good way of stimulating the economy. This paper makes a contribution to the debate by assessing the theoretical perspectives and the empirical approaches used. It then undertakes an analysis of the US using a number of approaches and the results suggest that the simple Military Keynesian arguments still lack empirical support.
Determinants of User Acceptance of Digital Libraries

Using the Decomposed Theory of Planned Behavior this research aims to determine the factors that affect the intentions of teaching staff towards using digital library services. Data are collected from 426 respondents and structural equation modeling is used to analyze the responses. Study results showed that attitude toward use and subjective norm have an important positive effect but perceived behavioral control does not have an effect on intention. Another finding is that compatibility is more effective than relative advantage in this context and it is seen that the system’s ease of use is more related with perceived behavioral control rather than attitude.
Wind events and benthic-pelagic coupling in a shallow subtropical bay in Florida

During the winter months (December to April), the SE United States is influenced by continental air masses from the north or northwest which pass at approximately 4 to 7 d intervals. These wind events can cause suspension of bottom sediments in Florida Bay. Over a 9 d period in March 2001, we examined the effects of a wind-mixing event on the pelagic system within the NW part of Florida Bay, where water depth is 2 to 3 m. This event caused significant suspension of bottom materials, large increases in NH 4 and PO 4 , smaller increases in NO 3 +NO 2 and Si(OH) 4 , a decrease in microzooplankton abundance, and an increase in benthic copepods in the water column. As wind speeds declined, there was a rapid decline in PO 4 concentration, gradual declines in suspended sediment, NH 4 and Si(OH) 4 , an increase in chlorophyll a (chl a) stock, an increase in phytoplankton growth and productivity, an increase in microzooplankton grazing rate, and a settling of the benthic harpacticoid community. No grazing response was apparent in the mesozooplankton community. The wind event clearly injected dissolved and particulate benthic materials into the water column, where they directly stimulated the bacterioplankton, phytoplankton and microzooplankton communities within 1 to 2 d after the event. The water column was strongly net heterotrophic at this time, suggesting a large input of dissolved organic matter from the bottom. Stimulation of the pelagic food web continued at least until we completed our study 6 d after the event. By the end of our study, the water column was net autotrophic.
Effects and consideration of storm movement in rainfall–runoff modelling at the basin scale

Abstract. A number of studies have emphasized the effects of rainfall movement on runoff simulation; nevertheless, due to the lack of rain gauges inside sub-basins, a method using a hyetograph of the nearest gauges to a sub-basin is usually employed. This study investigated the effects of neglecting rainfall movement on overland simulation results in even a middle-sized basin. Simulations were carried out under two conditions: (1) stationary conditions where the nearest gauge hyetograph was used and rainfall movement was ignored, which is quite common in the case of a lack of data, and (2) moving conditions where a shifted hyetograph based on hyetograph timing recorded in the basin was used. The simulation results were compared with the measured discharge at the outlets. The results revealed that using the shifted hyetograph, which could consider the rainfall movement over sub-basins, decreased the mismatches between the simulated and observed hydrograph. In some of the cases, the shifted hyetograph reduced the relative difference more than 20 %. The study provided a useful method to cope with rainfall movement in runoff modelling of sparsely gauged large watersheds.
Information and communication Technology and Poverty: An Asian Perspective

The emergence of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), in particular the Internet, has generated new enthusiasms about the development prospects for poor economies. Many now think that new technologies can provide a faster route to better livelihoods and improved quality of life than the one afforded by the standard process of industrialization. The opposing view holds that the focus on ICTs will detract attention from the more fundamental task of addressing the basic problems of economic development
Effect of audit quality on market price of firms listed on the Nigerian stock market

This study examines the effect of audit quality on share prices of Nigerian oil and gas firms using the regression and covariance analyses. Findings from the regression anlysis suggests that the composition of the audit committee and auditor type has significant effect on the market prices of quoted firms. There is a positive and significant relationship between audit committee composition and share prices. The covariance analysis suggests that while auditor type (BIG4/NONBIG4), auditor independence, and composition of the audit committee have a positive and significant relationship with market price of shares, tenure of external auditors has a negative relationship with the market price of shares. The implication of the findings is that audit quality will enhance reported earnings and hence the share market prices. The study recommends that firms should strive to associate with the BIG4 external auditors in Nigeria as such an association could enhance the credibility of the audit process and by extension their share prices; regulatory authorities should discourage joint audit and non-audit services to firms because it could threaten the independence of external auditors. Regulatory agencies should also present distinct statements on the tenure of the external auditors to be clearly stated in annual reports. This is because a long attachment between the external auditors and a client may threaten the independence of the external auditors. Key words: Share-prices, audit-quality, auditor-independence, auditor-type.
Preliminary and Incomplete Current Account and Interest Differentials in Developing Economies

This paper presents an analysis of the joint behavior of the post1975 cyclical fluctuations of the current account and the real interest rate differential for a large number of developing economies. In constrast to industrialized economies, we find that the volatility of the current account and of the interest differential, as well as the contemporaneous correlations between the current account and output and between the interest differential and output generally display very wide ranges across countries. We verify whether these varying features can be explained by small open economy real business cycle model with varying levels of taxes and corruption. JEL Classification Codes: E32, F41, G15.
LOW-ALTITUDE RECONNECTION INFLOW–OUTFLOW OBSERVATIONS DURING A 2010 NOVEMBER 3 SOLAR ERUPTION

For a solar flare occurring on 2010 November 3, we present observations using several SDO/AIA extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) passbands of an erupting flux rope followed by inflows sweeping into a current sheet region. The inflows are soon followed by outflows appearing to originate from near the termination point of the inflowing motion—an observation in line with standard magnetic reconnection models. We measure average inflow plane-of-sky speeds to range from ∼150 to 690 km s−1 with the initial, high-temperature inflows being the fastest. Using the inflow speeds and a range of Alfvén speeds, we estimate the Alfvénic Mach number which appears to decrease with time. We also provide inflow and outflow times with respect to RHESSI count rates and find that the fast, high-temperature inflows occur simultaneously with a peak in the RHESSI thermal light curve. Five candidate inflow–outflow pairs are identified with no more than a minute delay between detections. The inflow speeds of these pairs are measured to be ∼102 km s−1 with outflow speeds ranging from ∼102 to 103 km s−1—indicating acceleration during the reconnection process. The fastest of these outflows are in the form of apparently traveling density enhancements along the legs of the loops rather than the loop apexes themselves. These flows could possibly either be accelerated plasma, shocks, or waves prompted by reconnection. The measurements presented here show an order of magnitude difference between the retraction speeds of the loops and the speed of the density enhancements within the loops—presumably exiting the reconnection site.
Optimal Living Profile : An Inventory to Assess Health and Wellness

Objective: To develop an instrument to assess environmental, emotional, spiritual, physical, social, and intellectual health and wellness. Methods: Reliability was assessed using 102 respondents who completed the OLP on 2 occasions. Concurrent validity was assessed using a second sample of 34 respondents and a panel of 6 experts. Results: Most items had high test-retest correlation coefficients. Each dimension had high internal consistency (ie, high Cronbach Alphas). Independence of items in each dimension suggested good divergent and convergent validity. Conclusions: The OLP is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing dimensions of the Total Person Concept. Am J Health Behav 2000;24(6):403-412
MORPHOGENESIS OF PROTEINS: CLASSIC VIEWS AND CHALLENGES AHEAD

Protein folding has stimulated since decades a large number of experimental and theoretical studies. Given the complexity of the problem, efforts have been generally directed towards the understanding of the fundamental rules governing the morphogenesis of a few paradigmatic globular proteins. A classic approach has been to tackle the folding mechanism of proteins belonging to the same “family” and thereby characterized by the same overall fold (and function) in spite of substantial differences in primary structure. Recently we have investigated the mirror situation i.e. that of “heteromorphic” proteins characterised by substantially different fold in spite of very similar or nearly identical amino acid sequence. In this paper we shall present and discuss some of the more stimulating aspects of the folding problem based on our results on small domain proteins investigated by transient kinetics, mutagenesis and MD simulations. Finally, we highlight some of the recent findings on the so called instrinsically unstructured proteins, unfolded polypeptides that acquire a threedimensional structure upon binding to their target/ligand. These apparently numerous protein domains represent an interesting experimental system to explore the binding induced folding reaction and to investigate the role of disorder in cellular functions.
Derangement of hemopoiesis and hematological indices in Khat (Catha edulis) - treated rats

The purpose of this study was to identify the sub-acute toxic effects of Khat (Catha edulis) on hemopoiesis and hematological indices of white albino rats. Two groups, each of 10 rats, were used. In the experimental group, a hydro-ethanol extract of C. edulis was administered orally to rats, daily, in single doses of 500 mg/kg body weight, for for weeks. The control group received equivalent amounts of normal saline. Our results show, for the first time, that oral administration of C. edulis hydro-ethanol extract caused significant derangement in hemopoiesis and in gross hematological indices in rats, characterized by macrocytic anemia and leucopenia. Our data show statistically significant decreases in total leukocytes count (TLC) in which, hemoglobin concentration (Hb. conc.), packed cell volume (PCV), and red cell count (RCC), accompanied by significant increases in mean cell volume (MCV), red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and platelets count with no change in mean hemoglobin concentration (MHC). In peripheral blood smears (PBS) of treated rats, there were evidences of dyserythropoiesis- impaired hemoglobinization, macrocytosis, poikilocytosis and anisocytosis, and dysgranulopoiesis- giant forms, hypersegmented neutrophils and bizarre nuclear shapes. In conclusion, our results indicate that oral administration of a hydro-ethanol extract of C. edulis adversely affected blood cell formation and induced macrocytic anemia and leukopenia in rats. However, the exact mechanisms of these hematological changes produced by Khat are still in need for further studies. Key words: Catha edulis, hemopoiesis, anemia, leukopenia, rats.
Impact of the Defining Criteria and Components of Metabolic Syndrome on Arterial Stiffness Parameters

Background: Metabolic syndrome is associated with an increase in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Since the first description of MS, several definitions have been elaborated (IDF, AHA, Who, NCEP). Arterial stiffness is a strong independent predictor of cardiovascular events and cardiovascular mortality in various groups of patients. Aim: The purpose of present study was to investigate the impact of the different definitions of MS on arterial stiffness. Material and Methods: we investigated 214 patients, mean age 60.04±9.98 years. Arterial stiffness was evaluated using TensioMed TM Arteriograph. Results: Using the three definitions of the metabolic syndrome – IDF 2005, AHA, NCEP -, a proportion of 71.5% (153 patients), 72.9% (156 patients) and 62.1% (133 patients), respectively, had metabolic syndrome. Pulse wave velocity in the group of patients with metabolic syndrome was increased compared to those without metabolic syndrome, but the difference was not statistically significant (IDF - 10.37±2.13m/sec vs 10.04±2.21m/sec, AHA 10.40±2.14m/sec vs 9.93±2.19m/sec, NCEP 10.47±1.86m/sec vs 9.95±2.55m/sec). A statistically significant difference between pulse wave velocity in men with metabolic syndrome compared to those without metabolic syndrome was found, the relationship being not true in women. Conclusion: Patients with MS (especially men) have increased arterial stiffness parameters than those without metabolic syndrome. All the three definitions used have the same ability to identify patients with arterial stiffness. Arterial stiffness parameters are more altered as the number of criteria for the definition of metabolic syndrome increases, regardless of the definition used.