Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
GDP Mimicking Portfolios and the Cross-Section of Stock Returns

The components of GDP (residential investment, durables, nondurables, equipment and software, and business structures) display a pronounced lead-lag structure. We investigate the implications of this lead-lag structure for the cross-section of asset returns. We find that the leading GDP components perform well in explaining the returns of 25 size and book-to-market portfolios and do reasonably well in explaining the returns of 10 momentum portfolios. The lagging components do a poor job at explaining the returns of 25 size and book-to-market portfolios but explain the return of momentum portfolios very well. A three-factor model with the market risk premium, one leading and one lagging GDP component compares very favorably with the Carhart four-factor model in jointly explaining the returns on 25 size/book-to-market portfolios, 10 momentum portfolios and 30 industry portfolios.
Semiconductor all-optical modulator for synchronization of independent fiber laser oscillators and active mode-locking

Using an optically driven nonlinear semiconductor mirror, we have synchronized a 1.56-/spl mu/m mode-locked erbium fiber laser to the pulse train from a mode-locked ytterbium fiber laser operating at 1.05 /spl mu/m. We demonstrate that a robust active or passive mode-locked picosecond pulse operation and tight control of the repetition rate can be obtained resulting in a large value of the locking tolerance for the slave laser cavity mismatch exceeding 250 /spl mu/m.
Earnings management and conservatism in the transition between private and public ownership : the role of private equity sponsors

This study explores the change in earnings management and conservatism as firms transition between private and public ownership. Using a unique sample of U.S. firms, a private phase, in which firm equity is privately held while firm debt is publicly held, is compared to a public phase, in which firm equity is also publicly held. As a large portion of the firms in the sample are backed by private equity (PE) sponsors, this study analyzes separately PE-backed firms and non-PE-backed firms. Evidence consistent with upward earnings management in the year of initial public offering, downward earnings management prior to management buyouts, and upward earnings management prior to leveraged buyouts is found. The study also finds that during the public phase, firms engage in greater upward earnings management to avoid small earnings decreases and recognize losses in a more timely manner. Furthermore, this study finds evidence that PE-backed private firms engage less in upward earnings management, and recognize losses more promptly, than do non-PE-backed private firms. Results are robust for various measures and controls, and are not affected by factors such as endogenous listing status and PE financing choices.
Genetic Epidemiology of Alzheimer Disease

A lzheimer disease (AD) is a degenerative brain disease affecting an estimated 15 million persons worldwide, making it the most frequent cause of dementia. Microscopic examination of the brain in AD reveals deposits of extracellular b-amyloid protein in diffuse plaques and in plaques containing elements of degenerating neurons, termed neuritic plaques. Intracellular changes include deposits of abnormally hyperphosphorylated t protein, a microtubule assembly protein, in the form of neurofibrillary tangles. There is an accompanying loss of neurons and synapses throughout the brain but particularly in the hippocampus, and there is neuropil thread protein deposits and granulovacuolar degeneration in hippocampal cells. The fundamental pathogenic mechanisms responsible for the development of these degenerative changes are largely unknown.
Logistics and financial performance: An analysis of 424 Finnish small and medium‐sized enterprises

Purpose – To explore the present logistics performance of Finnish small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) and to analyse the relationship between logistics performance and financial performance in these firms.Design/methodology/approach – The dataset comprises 424 SMEs that participated in a nationwide Finnish logistics survey in 2006. Logistics performance measures were derived from the survey data, and based on these values logistically top‐performing firms were identified within different industry groups. The financial performance of these firms was then examined vis‐a‐vis their industry peers using financial reports‐based data.Findings – The results imply that the overall level of logistics performance among the examined companies might be at such an elementary level that no statistically observable positive linkage between logistics performance and financial performance exists. The group of firms for whom logistics is a key source of competitive advantage in this sample is small and therefore stati.
Reducing handover cost for LTE femtocell/macrocell network

The Long Term Evolution (LTE) adopts the femtocell technology (i.e., indoor base station; BS) to offload data traffic from the macrocell (i.e., outdoor BS) and extend the radio coverage of the macrocell. In the LTE femtocell/macrocell network, it is more likely for a mobile station (MS) to perform the handover procedure to switch the RRC connection between femtocells and macrocells. In this paper, we propose a Reducing Handover Cost (RHC) mechanism to achieve two goals: to avoid frequent handover executions and to increase the traffic offloading capability of femtocells. RHC is considered practical and has been implemented in the femtocell prototype. Based on the analytical models and the simulation experiments, we investigate the performance of the RHC mechanism. Our study shows that the RHC mechanism can effectively achieve the two goals.
Public relations practices and organizational performance

Although small numbers of empirical studies have examined public relations practices in organizations and the prescriptive marketing literature continues to stress the value of public relations activities, little or no empirical studies in Australia have investigated the effect of public relations activities on organizational performance. This paper will present the results of a study in Australia that was designed to examine the extent to which the use of the each of the various public relations activities could be related to a high or a low level of organizational performance.
Anxiety, Anxiety Symptoms, and Their Correlates in Persons with Dementia in Norwegian Nursing Homes: A Cause for Concern

Background/Aims: Little is known about anxiety and its associations among persons with dementia in nursing homes. This study aims to examine anxiety, anxiety symptoms, and their correlates in persons with dementia in Norwegian nursing homes. Methods: In all, 298 participants with dementia ≥65 years old from 17 nursing homes were assessed with a validated Norwegian version of the Rating Anxiety in Dementia scale (RAID-N). Associations between anxiety (RAID-N score) and demographic and clinical characteristics were analyzed with linear regression models. Results: Anxiety, according to a cutoff of ≥12 on the RAID-N, was found in 34.2% (n = 102) of the participants. Irritability (59.7%) and restlessness (53.0%) were the most frequent anxiety symptoms. The participants' general physical health, a wide range of neuropsychiatric symptoms, and anxiolytic use were significant correlates of higher RAID-N scores. Conclusion: Knowledge about anxiety, anxiety symptoms, and their correlates may enhance early detection of anxiety and planning of necessary treatment and proactive measures among this population residing in nursing homes.
Active Asset Allocation Among a Large Set of Stocks: How Effective is the Parametric Rule?

In this study we measure the value of active money management. We explore this issue by comprehensively examining the parametric rule proposed by Brandt, Santa-Clara and Valkanov (2009) (the BSV rule) out-of-sample for cross-sectional portfolio choice among a large number of assets and comparing this rule to the mean-variance (MV) rule and the naive 1/N rule recently advocated by DeMiguel, Garlappi and Uppal (2009). We find that the BSV rule outperforms both the MV and 1/N rules and the outperformance is robust to investment horizons and stock market states. The BSV rule is effective for investors with different preferences or investment opportunities either. The effectiveness of the BSV rule is robust to data screening criteria, estimation periods, portfolio performance evaluation models, the business cycle, and stock market states. Our results suggest that the BSV rule is useful.
Adaptation of Yeast Cell Membranes to Ethanol

A highly ethanol-tolerant Saccharomyces wine strain is able, after growth in the presence of ethanol, to efficiently improve the ethanol tolerance of its membrane. A less-tolerant Saccharomyces laboratory strain, however, is unable to adapt its membrane to ethanol. Furthermore, after growth in the presence of ethanol, the membrane of the latter strain becomes increasingly sensitive, although this is a reversible process. Reversion to a higher tolerance occurs only after the addition of an energy source and does not take place in the presence of cycloheximide.
Testing, verification, and diagnosis in the presence of unknowns

Improvement of the accuracy of error and fault diagnosis as well as ATPG for IP-based designs are important problems in industry. In this paper we address these problems when portions of the design may be unspecified. Two approaches to solve these problems have been presented: (1) solving Boolean satisfiability under unknown constraints, and (2) a network modification-based solution. Experimental results on constrained equivalence checking, enhancement of error diagnosis resolution for combinational circuits, and ATPG for IP-based designs have been presented on the ISCAS 85 benchmark and industrial circuits.
Parallel Evolutionary Multi-Objective Optimization on Large, Heterogeneous Clusters: An Applications Perspective

Real-world operational use of parallel multi-objective evolutionary algorithms requires successful searches in constrained wall-clock periods, limited trial-and-error algorithmic analysis, and scalable use of heterogeneous computing hardware. This study provides a cross-disciplinary collaborative effort to assess and adapt parallel multi-objective evolutionary algorithms for operational use in satellite constellation design using large dedicated clusters with heterogeneous processor speeds/architectures. A statistical, metric-based evaluation framework is used to demonstrate how time-continuation, asynchronous evolution, dynamic population sizing, and epsilon dominance archiving can be used to enhance both simple master–slave parallelization strategies and more complex multiple-population schemes. Results for a benchmark constellation design coverage problem show that simple master– slave schemes that exploit time-continuation are often sufficient and potentially superior to complex multiple-population schemes.
How Diversified are Equity Mutual Funds?

The paper investigates the degree to which the domestic equity mutual fund is diversified, and attempts to determine the extent to which any undiversified idiosyncratic risk, i.e. unsystematic or company specific risk is associated with the average fund returns. The sample consists of mutual funds from six investment objective categories, including aggressive growth, small company, growth, growth and income, equity income, and index funds. The results show that, except for the index funds category, the average domestic fund is substantially undiversified. The average idiosyncratic volatility as a percentage of the fund’s total volatility ranges from 0.82% for the index funds to 34.28% for the small company category. The explanatory power of the Fama-French-Carhart model declined during the 1986 to 2001 sub period, and then went back up from April 2001 to March 2006.
International internet marketing: A triangulation study of drivers and barriers in the business‐to‐business context in the United Kingdom

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to investigate empirically the drivers and barriers operation on the adoption of internet technology by business‐to‐business marketing companies that operate at the international level.Design/methodology/approach – A review of the literature concerning the diffusion and adoption of innovations precedes a triangulation study involving a questionnaire‐based survey of 123 companies (a 59 percent response rate) and case studies of four others, all located in the UK. Data were factor‐analysed, following testing for validity, reliability and adequacy of the research instrument.Findings – The paper concludes that powerful drivers of international internet‐based marketing in business‐to‐business firms will generally outweigh significant barriers to its adoption in the future. It also explains how innovation‐diffusion theory identifies factors instrumental in the adoption of internet marketing.Research limitations/implications – The study was confined to business‐to‐busines.
Impacts of the Tropical Pacific/Indian Oceans on the Seasonal Cycle of the West African Monsoon

AbstractThe current consensus is that drought has developed in the Sahel during the second half of the twentieth century as a result of remote effects of oceanic anomalies amplified by local land–atmosphere interactions. This paper focuses on the impacts of oceanic anomalies upon West African climate and specifically aims to identify those from SST anomalies in the Pacific/Indian Oceans during spring and summer seasons, when they were significant. Idealized sensitivity experiments are performed with four atmospheric general circulation models (AGCMs). The prescribed SST patterns used in the AGCMs are based on the leading mode of covariability between SST anomalies over the Pacific/Indian Oceans and summer rainfall over West Africa. The results show that such oceanic anomalies in the Pacific/Indian Ocean lead to a northward shift of an anomalous dry belt from the Gulf of Guinea to the Sahel as the season advances. In the Sahel, the magnitude of rainfall anomalies is comparable to that obtained by other aut.
The epidemiology of EEE WEE, SLE and Turlock viruses, with special reference to birds, in a tropical rain forest near Belem, Brazil.

Early in 1963 a study of bird ecology in the forest of the IPEAN (Instituto de Pesquisas e Experimentação Agropecuarias do Norte; formerly Instituto Agronomico do Norte) was undertaken cooperatively by the U.S. National Museum, the Belém Virus Laboratory of the Instituto Evandro Chagas and the Museu Goeldi. As a part of the study, virus isolation attempts and serologic testing were done with material from the birds. This latter project was initially concerned with Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus, which was known to be endemic in the IPEAN forest2 and was believed to involve birds of Brazil in its epidemiology3. In 1964, however, during the course of
Exchange Rate Pass-Through to Export Prices: Assessing Some Cross-Country Evidence

A growing body of empirical work has found evidence of a decline in exchange rate pass-through to import prices in a number of industrial countries. Our paper complements this work by examining pass-through from the other side of the transaction; that is, we assess the exchange rate sensitivity of export prices (denominated in the exporter's currency). We first sketch out a streamlined analytical model that highlights some key factors that determine pass-through. Using this model as reference, we find that the prices charged on exports to the United States are more responsive to the exchange rate than is the case for export prices to other destinations, which is consistent with results in the literature suggesting that import price pass-through in the U.S. market is relatively low. We also find that moves in the exchange rate sensitivity of export prices over time have been significantly affected by country and region-specific factors, including the Asian financial crisis (for emerging Asia), deepening integration with the United States (for Canada), and the effects of the 1992 ERM crisis (for the United Kingdom).
Oxcarbazepine in Rapid Benzodiazepine Detoxification

Objective: This study aims at evaluating the tolerability and efficacy of the antiepileptic drug oxcarbazepine in benzodiazepine detoxification in ten patients. Methods: In this case study of an inpatient withdrawal program, each of the ten patients was detoxified using oxcarbazepine and completed withdrawal successfully without the occurrence of withdrawal symptoms. The detoxification program followed an outlined dosage scheme with oxcarbazepine increase and benzodiazepine tapering. Results: The rapidity of benzodiazepine detoxification using oxcarbazepine was remarkable, benzodiazepine withdrawal being completed in as little as 11 days. Conclusions: The results support the assumption that oxcarbazepine is a valuable drug for inpatient benzodiazepine withdrawal programs.
Economic Restructuring of the Former Soviet Bloc: The Case of Housing

Housing and housing finance reform are essential for creating a viable, market-oriented economy out of a former socialist system. This book assesses and compares market-oriented housing sector reforms in seven countries: Hungary, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Estonia, Armenia, and Russia. For each country, experts lay out the basic housing situation, housing production, finance and home ownership subsidies, rental housing, and likely future developments. The authors write on the basis of firsthand, on-site experience with market-oriented housing reform in the countries they discuss.
Morphometric study of the orientation of lumbar zygapophyseal joints in a South Indian population

Purpose: To determine the orientation of lumbar zygapophyseal joints and prevalence of facet tropism (FT) identified by computerized tomographic (CT) scans. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 124 CT scans of patients with spinal injuries, seen between 2011and 2015, were retrospectively studied. A total of 566 uninjured motion segments were analysed. The right and left zygapophyseal joint angles (ZJAs) from L1–L2 to L5–S1 were measured on axial sections at uninjured levels. The absolute difference between the right and left ZJA was calculated to determine the prevalence and severity of FT at each level. Results: The mean ZJA (mean ± SD) at L1–L2, L2–L3, L3–L4, L4–L5 and L5–S1 was 23.55 ± 7.21, 27.97 ± 6.95, 39.47 ± 6.07, 48.32 ± 6.38 and 53.45 ± 6.67, respectively. Prevalence of FT at L1–L2, L2–L3, L3–L4, L4–L5 and L5–S1 was 22.42%, 25%, 27.19%, 47.82% and 38.5%, respectively. One-way repeated analysis of variance test showed a statistically significant difference in mean ZJA (p < 0.05) and prevalence of FT (p < 0.05) at different levels of the lumbar spine. Conclusions: This study confirms that ZJA is not the same at different levels of the lumbar spine. The mean ZJA progressively increases from L1–L2 to L5–S1. This could explain the greater range of movements in the lumbar spine at the lower levels. The higher prevalence of FT at L4–L5 and L5–S1 seen in this study could explain the greater incidence of disc prolapse and other degenerative disorders at these levels.
Mutations in the connexin 26 gene (GJB2) among Ashkenazi Jews with nonsyndromic recessive deafness.

BACKGROUND Mutations in the GJB2 gene cause one form of nonsyndromic recessive deafness. Among Mediterranean Europeans, more than 80 percent of cases of nonsyndromic recessive deafness result from inheritance of the 30delG mutant allele of GJB2. We assessed the contribution of mutations in GJB2 to the prevalence of the condition among Ashkenazi Jews. METHODS We tested for mutations in GJB2 in DNA samples from three Ashkenazi Jewish families with nonsyndromic recessive deafness, from Ashkenazi Jewish persons seeking carrier testing for other conditions, and from members of other ethnic groups. The hearing of persons who were heterozygous for mutations in GJB2 was assessed by means of pure-tone audiometry, measurement of middle-ear immittance, and recording of otoacoustic emissions. RESULTS Two frame-shift mutations in GJB2, 167delT and 30delG, were observed in the families with nonsyndromic recessive deafness. In the Ashkenazi Jewish population the prevalence of heterozygosity for 167delT, which is rare in the general population, was 4.03 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 2.5 to 6.0 percent), and for 30delG the prevalence was 0.73 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 0.2 to 1.8 percent). Genetic-linkage analysis showed conservation of the haplotype for 167delT but the existence of several haplotypes for 30delG. Audiologic examination of carriers of the mutant alleles who had normal hearing revealed subtle differences in their otoacoustic emissions, suggesting that the expression of mutations in GJB2 may be semidominant. CONCLUSIONS The high frequency of carriers of mutations in GJB2 (4.76 percent) predicts a prevalence of 1 deaf person among 1765 people, which may account for the majority of cases of nonsyndromic recessive deafness in the Ashkenazi Jewish population. Conservation of the haplotype flanking the 167delT mutation suggests that this allele has a single origin, whereas the multiple haplotypes with the 30delG mutation suggest that this site is a hot spot for recurrent mutations.
Chronic Posttraumatic Osteomyelitis and Infected Nonunion of the Tibia: Current Management Concepts

Abstract Chronic posttraumatic osteomyelitis and infected nonunion of the tibia are complex problems that result in considerable morbidity and can threaten viability of the limb. Development of infection may result from compromised soft tissue and bone vascularity, systemic compromise of the host, and virulent or resistant organisms. Biofilm formation on implant and devascularized bone surfaces protects pathogens and may lead to persistence of infection. Management is based on a detailed evaluation of the patient, the involved bone and soft tissues, degree of associated lower extremity inury, and type of bacterial pathogens. Infection control is achieved with radical débridement, skeletal stabilization, and microbial‐specific antibiotics. Local antibiotic delivery is a useful supplement to systemic administration. Local or free muscle flaps may be necessary to achieve soft‐tissue coverage. Restoration of bone defects and bony union can be accomplished with bone grafting. However, large defects require complex reconstructive procedures, such as distraction osteogenesis and vascularized bone grafting.
How Much Training Is Needed for Iterative Multiuser Detection and Decoding?

This paper studies large randomly spread directsequence code-division multiple-access system operating over a block fading multipath channel. Channel knowledge is obtained by a linear estimator whose initial decisions are iteratively refined by using a soft feedback from the single-user decoders. In addition to the traditional training symbol based signaling scheme, we study a novel method that utilizes a random bias in the symbol probabilities of the transmitted signal to construct the initial channel estimates. The numerical results suggest that in the large system limit, appropriate selection of the channel code and signaling method allows for successful communication with vanishing training overhead in overloaded systems if iterative channel and data estimation is performed at the receiver.