Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sentiment and Price Formation: Interactions and Regime Shifts

The time-series relationship between investor sentiment and market returns, in particular the direction and size of the effects, remains ambiguous, being assessed under the restrictive assumption of linearity. This paper reveals the presence of four, intuitive, regimes in price and sentiment formation in the US stock market at the monthly level over the period 1965-2003, even after controlling for various economic and financial factors. An optimistic state of high returns (occurrence probability: 44%) alternates with a pessimistic state of low returns (35%), while two infrequent, highly volatile states capture temporal irregularities: episodes of extreme negative returns and strong pessimism (13%) and a reversal phase of intense optimism (8%). Five main findings arise: i) In the high return (low return) state, only individual (institutional) sentiment is influential, being a contrarian (momentum) signal for the subsequent return and responding positively (negatively) but weakly to its lagged value. In the former case, the impact of sentiment is consistent with correction of a previous mispricing, possibly induced by individuals, while in the latter, it indicates institutions' correct predictive ability. ii) The impact of institutional sentiment is substantial but constrained in the pessimistic state, while the effect of individual sentiment is moderate but augmented substantially at irregular times. iii) Individuals interpret institutional optimism as a positive signal, whereas institutions perceive individuals' optimism as a contrarian indicator. iv) Total arbitrage cost exerts a positive impact on both subsequent returns and institutional optimism. v) Interest rates' reductions amplify investors' optimism at irregular times, most evidently during the market reversal phase.
Streptococcal contamination of food: an unusual cause of epidemic pharyngitis

The purpose of this article is to define the distinguishing characteristics of food-borne streptococcal pharyngitis by reviewing the literature. The main cause of this infection lies in poor handling and preservation of cold salads, usually those which contain eggs and are prepared some hours before serving. A shorter incubation period and a higher attack rate (51–90%) than in transmission by droplets was noted. The epidemics tend to occur in warm climates and in the hottest months of the year. Streptococcus pyogenes seems to originate from the pharynx or hand lesions of a food handler. In comparison to airborne transmission symptoms such as sore throat, pharyngeal erythema, and enlarged tonsils, submandibular lymphadenopathy are more frequent than coughing and coryza. Seven out of 17 reports revealed an M-untypeable serotype, which may possess virulent characteristics. Penicillin prophylaxis was shown to limit additional spread of the infection. There were no non-suppurative sequels, and suppurative sequels were very rare. We assume that the guidelines for the prevention of food poisoning would apply to food-borne streptococcal pharyngitis. Food handlers should be supervised to ensure they comply with strict rules of preparation and storage of food. Cold salads, especially those containing eggs, should not be left overnight before serving.
What Drives Firm-level Consensus Growth Forecasts? Cash Flow News Or Expected Return News?

WHAT DRIVES FIRM-LEVEL CONSENSUS GROWTH FORECASTS? CASH FLOW NEWS OR EXPECTED RETURN NEWS? Publication No. ______ Giao X. Nguyen, Ph.D. The University of Texas at Arlington, 2007 Supervising Professor: Peggy E. Swanson Recent findings in the finance literature document that analysts adjust their growth forecasts in response to major news, proxied by large changes in company stock price. However, Campbell and Shiller (1988) argue that stock prices, themselves, carry two sets of information: news about changes in cash-flow expectation (i.e. cash flow news) and changes in discount rate (i.e. expected return news). The former one directly relates to changes in expectation about the fundamentals of the company while the latter one to the changes in market expectation. Hence, are analysts more concerned about expectation of the permanent movement in the stock price (cash flow news) or the temporary movement in the stock price (expected return news)?
In-hospital and one-year outcomes of patients with high-risk acute myocardial infarction treated with thrombolysis or primary coronary angioplasty.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to observe the outcomes of high-risk patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with primary angioplasty and intravenous thrombolysis in a community setting. METHODS A prospective study of the in-hospital and 12-month outcomes was conducted in 17 cardiology centers where primary angioplasty was available, and in 30 where it was not. Three thousand seventy-four patients in the first 12 hours of an evolving infarction were recruited; among these, 2227 patients who met one or more pre-defined criteria of increased risk were included in the study. RESULTS Thrombolysis and primary angioplasty were respectively performed in 1090 and in 721 patients; 416 patients (18.7%) received no reperfusion treatment. The incidence of the primary combined in-hospital endpoint (death, non-fatal reinfarction and stroke) was similar in patients treated with thrombolysis (9.2%) and with primary angioplasty (10.7%) (odds ratio--OR 1.19, 95% confidence interval--CI 0.86-1.63, p = NS), and was higher (22.6%) in patients receiving no reperfusion treatment as compared to thrombolysis (OR 3.30, 95% CI 2.36-4.63, p < 0.0001). The occurrence of the 12-month endpoint (death, reinfarction, congestive heart failure and recurrent angina) was lower after primary angioplasty than after thrombolysis (26.8 vs 35.0%, OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.55-0.84, p = 0.0003), due to a lower incidence of angina. At multivariate analysis, older age, anterior infarction, Killip class > 1, high heart rate, and low systolic blood pressure on admission were all significantly associated with a higher incidence of both endpoints. The adjusted analysis confirmed that, despite similar in-hospital results after both reperfusion treatments, primary angioplasty was independently associated with better 1-year outcomes (relative risk 0.66, 95% CI 0.56-0.79, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS In this observation in the community setting, a strategy of primary angioplasty in patients with high-risk myocardial infarction was not better than thrombolysis in terms of mortality or recurrent infarction, but was associated with less angina at 1 year.
The electoral tango : the evolution of electoral integrity in competitive authoritarian regimes

In recent decades, the politics of electoral reform has revolved mainly around the implementation of democratic electoral principles rather than around the principles themselves. This means that electoral authoritarian leaders tend to employ forms of electoral abuse that entail giving unfair advantage to pro-regime electoral competitors, rather than excluding either voters or competitors from the electoral arena altogether. When such regimes become weakened, they tend to ramp up forms of manipulation that favour pro-regime political forces. This deterioration in election quality often serves as a focal point which mobilises both domestic and international pressure for electoral reform, as the erosion of established electoral rights generates grievances. Under the right circumstances, such mobilisation can lead to step changes in the quality of elections. This suggests that improvements in electoral integrity commonly follow increases in fraud, in a one-step-back-two-steps-forward pattern which is in several ways quite distinct from existing understandings of the relationship between elections and democratisation. This model, which I term the ‘electoral tango’, has implications for how we evaluate and address electoral malpractice in the contemporary world.
Swimming of a two-dimensional flexible plate near a solid boundary

The basic principle of fish propulsion with the presence of a solid boundary was studied. The problem of a two-dimensional potential flow over a flexible plate swimming adjacent to a planar wall is treated. This is solved by applying the method of images. The motion of the flexible plate consists of a progressive wave traveling along the body of the plate. The energy imparted to the fluid, the power required and the thrust of the plate are calculated. It was found that the presence of the planar wall affected the lift of the plate; such that the lift of the plate will depend on the distance between the plate and the wall. Finally the total circulation around the plate and its image was calculated in agreement with the theorem of Joukowski.
A Numerical Study on the 3‐D Approach of the Equatorial Plasma Bubble Seeded by the Prereversal Vertical Drift

Numerical studies concerning equatorial plasma bubble (EPB) seeding source mechanisms have been performed for the last decades. Density perturbations, gravity waves, shear instabilities among others were used in the literature. In all the cases the prereversal vertical drift has a central role, being a necessary condition in addition to all these seeding mechanisms. Notwithstanding, since the prereversal vertical drift presents an asymmetric distribution, this longitudinal variation was hypothesized to act as a seeding source mechanism. This mechanism is capable of providing both contributions: elevate the ionosphere and seed the collisional interchange instability. Two‐dimensional investigation was already done, showing the validity of this hypothesis in a bidimensional scenario. Nonetheless, the inclusion of the parallel dynamics could alter the outcome of such analysis, once the component of the conductivity along the geomagnetic field direction causes a load effect reducing the growth rate and shifting its altitude of maximization, thus a 3‐D model was developed, named MATPLAB_3D (Mathematical Plasma Bubble Model 3D), and the hypothesis was tested. A progressive approach was performed starting with an oversimplified configuration and concluding with a more realistic profile of prereversal vertical drift obtained using the SAMI2 model. The numerical simulations revealed the existence of a quasi‐gaussian seeding source. Also, in case of a prereversal vertical drift varying within 20–60 m/s, the seeded instability evolves into an EPB structure with a longitudinal extension of ~2° within ~22 min. This EPB maps to low latitude regions and presents secondary structures in its west side. This result further suggests that even though a decrease in the EPB growth due to the inclusion of the parallel conductivity occurred, the hypothesis remains valid.
An analytical technique for the determination of spectral components of multilevel carrier-based PWM methods

This paper presents an analytical approach for determining the spectral components of multilevel pulsewidth modulation (PWM) strategies, which avoids the problems of spectral leakage, roundoff, and subtle programming errors associated with the more usual approach of using discrete Fourier transforms of simulated switched waveforms. The approach uses a double Fourier integral formulation to analyze the inverter switched output, establishing the inner and outer integral limits of this formulation under conditions of natural sampling, regular sampling, and overmodulation. Closed-form and numerical integration solutions are presented for phase disposition PWM of a diode-clamped inverter to illustrate the technique, together with a comparison of theoretical and experimental spectral results for the naturally and asymmetric regularly sampled cases to confirm the validity of the approach.
The Combustion of Carbon-Tetrachloride in a High Temperature Methane-Air Flame Environment.

Stable species concentration and temperature profiles are provided for a series of five CCl4 /CH4/air flames studied on a flat flame burner at atmospheric pressure. A de­ tailed description of the facility used to collect this data is given. This system includes a novel flue gas collection and treatment system. A new gas chromatographic technique used to analyze subatmospheric gas samples is described in detail. This technique utilizes gas syringes for sampling of selected C l and C2 hydrocarbons and chlorinated hydrocarbons, as well as fixed gases. Stable species are sampled with aerodynamically cooled quartz microprobes. Temperature measurements are taken with uncoated 0.02 cm type R thermocouple beads. The first three flames comprise a study of the variation of equivalence ratio ((f)) at constant atomic chlorine to hydrogen ratio (Cl/H), (<f> = 0.76, 1.02, and 1.17 at Cl/H = 0.3). The first, fourth, and fifth flames comprise a study of the variation of the CI/H ratio at constant equivalence ratio (Cl/H = 0.073, 0.34, and 0.61 at <f) = 1). Net reaction rate profiles were generated for each flame for CH4 and CCI4 . A mass destruction and removal efficiency (DRE) of near 99.99% was achieved in all five flames. Two types of stable intermediates were observed in several of the flames. Chloroform was seen as the most likely candidate product of incomplete combustion (PIC). No candidate PICs were observed in a fuel rich flame. The increasing importance of recombination reactions to form C2 molecules is observed as the Cl/H ratio increases. Saturated hydrocarbons are observed to decrease in stability as the Cl/H increases. A correlation is observed between peak net reaction rate and the overall level of destruction for CH4 and CCI4 . For a constant Cl/H ratio, the fuel rich flame has the highest peak reaction rate for CCI4 . The highest peak reaction rate for CCI4 among the five flames occurs in the flame with the highest CI/H ratio. An increasing time delay between CO formation and CO2 formation was ob­ served as the Cl/H ratio increased. This was due to the chlorine inhibition of CO oxidaCHAPTER
Characteristics of daily rainfall over the Maritime Continent

Daily rainfall characteristics is important in the anticipation of natural hazard events, such as floods and landslides. In this study, daily rainfall data from the Global Precipitation Climatology Project One Degree Daily (GPCP1DD) dataset are used to analyze the rainfall frequency, intensity and extreme rainfall indicators over the Indonesian Maritime Continent. A threshold of 1 mm is used to define a wet day. The analysis is conducted over the whole domain and several sub domains. It is revealed that the rainfall patterns over Indonesia are shaped by the frequency distribution of rainfall intensity over different seasons. Heavy rainfall (greater than 15 mm/day) generally determines the rainfall peak season over a specific region. It is also shown that the land areas receive more frequent and more intense rainfall than the ocean areas.
Evidence for formaldehyde antibodies and altered cellular immunity in subjects exposed to formaldehyde in mobile homes.

Eight symptomatic individuals chronically exposed to indoor formaldehyde (HCHO) at low concentrations (0.07-0.55 ppm) were compared to 8 nonexposed subjects with respect to: (1) presence of IgG and IgE antibodies to HCHO conjugated to human serum albumin (F-HSA); (2) the percentage of venous blood T and B cells by E and EAC-rosetting; and (3) the ability of T and B cells to undergo mitogen (PHA, PWM) stimulated blastogenesis as measured by the incorporation of tritiated thymidine. Anti-F-HSA IgG, but no IgE, antibodies were detected in the sera of the 8 exposed subjects; none were found in 7 of the unexposed controls. T lymphocytes were decreased in the exposed (48 +/- 11.5%) compared to the control (65.9 +/- 4.97%) subjects (p greater than .001 less than .01). B cells were 12.6 +/- 1.6% (HCHO group) and 14.75 +/- 2.1% (controls) (p greater than .02 less than .05). The incorporation of labeled thymidine by T cells (PHA) was decreased: 17,882 +/- 2,293 cpm (HCHO group) and 28,576 +/- 3,807 cpm (p greater than .001 less than .01). T and B cell blastogenesis (PWM) was 9,698 +/- 1,441 cpm (HCHO group) and 11,279 +/- 1,711 (controls) (p greater than .05 less than .1). Exposure to HCHO appears to stimulate IgG antibodies to F-HSA and decrease the proportion of peripheral T cells.
Bordetella pertussis and pertactin-deficient clinical isolates: lessons for pertussis vaccines

Bordetella pertussis causes whooping cough in humans, a highly transmissible respiratory disease life threatening for unvaccinated infants. Vaccination strategies were thus introduced worldwide with great success in developed countries reaching high vaccine coverage with efficacious vaccines. In the late 20th/early 21st century, acellular pertussis vaccines replaced whole cell pertussis vaccines but B. pertussis still circulates and evolves in humans, its only known reservoir. The latest transformation of this pathogen, and of its close relative Bordetella parapertussis, is the loss of pertactin production, a virulence factor included in different acellular pertussis vaccines. The real impact of this evolution on acellular pertussis vaccines efficacy and effectiveness should be assessed through standardized surveillance and isolation of B. pertussis and B. parapertussis worldwide.
Abnormalities in 5‐HT2A receptor mRNA expression in frontal cortex of chronic elderly schizophrenics with varying histories of neuroleptic treatment

Alterations in the 5‐HT2A receptor gene expression in the prefrontal cortex have been suggested to play a role in the pathophysiology and pharmacotherapy of schizophrenia. This study measured mRNA encoding 5‐HT2A receptor in the left superior frontal gyrus from chronic elderly schizophrenics (n = 21) with varying neuroleptic‐free intervals before death (72 hr to more than 5 years), and normal drug‐free elderly controls (n = 14). Levels of 5‐HT2A mRNA in schizophrenics correlated significantly and inversely with neuroleptic‐free interval before death (r = −0.77; P < 0.0001). In schizophrenics who had been receiving neuroleptic until time of death, levels of 5‐HT2A mRNA were similar to controls or greater. In schizophrenics who had been free of neuroleptic for more than six months levels of 5‐HT2A mRNA were significantly lower than in controls. These results confirm previous findings of decreased expression of the 5‐HT2A receptor gene in the frontal cortex of some schizophrenics and suggest that regulation of this gene may be involved in the therapeutic actions of typical neuroleptics. J. Neurosci. Res. 59:218–225, 2000 © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Elevated cell‐associated levels of interleukin 1β and interleukin 6 in inflamed mucosa of inflammatory bowel disease

The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of the monocyte‐derived cytokines interleukin 1β (IL‐1β), interleukin 6 (IL‐6) and tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) in idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease. Endoscopic biopsies of normal and inflamed intestinal mucosa were obtained from patients with ulcerative colitis (n = 11) and with Crohn’s disease (n = 10). Intestinal mucosal cells were isolated by collagenase digestion. Cell viability, morphology and CD14 expression were determined. To measure cell‐associated cytokine levels, cells were lysed and analysed for IL‐1β and TNF‐α in specific radioimmunoassays and for IL‐6 using a biological assay. Compared with mucosal cells from control patients without inflammatory bowel disease the inflamed intestine in ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease displayed markedly enhanced levels of IL‐1β (median 245 pg 10−6 cells, range 30–1275) and IL‐6 (median 22 U 10−6 cells, range 1–298). Non‐inflamed mucosa in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease did not shown elevated levels of IL‐1β (median 50 pg 10−6 cells, range 33–90) or IL‐6 (mean below detection limit of assay, i.e. 1 U 10−6 cells). In contrast, no clear cut difference between inflamed and non‐inflamed mucosa could be detected for TNF‐α. High tissue levels of IL‐6 were associated with a high endoscopic grade of local inflammation. These results suggest that the monocyte‐derived cytokines IL‐1β and IL‐6 are mediators of inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease.
A cryptic heterogametic transition revealed by sex‐linked DNA markers in Palearctic green toads

In sharp contrast to birds and mammals, most cold‐blooded vertebrates have homomorphic (morphologically undifferentiated) sex chromosomes. This might result either from recurrent X‐Y recombination (occurring e.g. during occasional events of sex reversal) or from frequent turnovers (during which sex‐determining genes are overthrown by new autosomal mutations). Evidence for turnovers is indeed mounting in fish, but very few have so far been documented in amphibians, possibly because of practical difficulties in identifying sex chromosomes. Female heterogamety (ZW) has long been established in Bufo bufo, based on sex reversal and crossing experiments. Here, we investigate a sex‐linked marker identified from a laboratory cross between Palearctic green toads (Bufo viridis subgroup). The F1 offspring produced by a female Bufo balearicus and a male Bufo siculus were phenotypically sexed, displaying an even sex ratio. A sex‐specific marker detected in highly reproducible AFLP genotypes was cloned. Sequencing revealed a noncoding, microsatellite‐containing fragment. Reamplification and genotyping of families of this and a reciprocal cross showed B. siculus to be male heterogametic (XY) and suggested the same system for B. balearicus. Our results thus reveal a cryptic heterogametic transition within bufonid frogs and help explain patterns of hybrid fitness within the B. viridis subgroup. Turnovers of genetic sex‐determination systems may be more frequent in amphibians than previously thought and thus contribute to the prevalence of homomorphic sex chromosomes in this group.
Emotion perception and social skill over the course of psychosis: A comparison of individuals “at-risk” for psychosis and individuals with early and chronic schizophrenia spectrum illness

Introduction. Deficits in emotion perception and social skill have been well established in schizophrenia; however, little is known about the extent of these deficits across the course of the illness; that is, prior to illness onset and as the duration of the illness increases. Method. We compared emotion perception (i.e., the Face Emotion Identification Task [FEIT] and Face Emotion Discrimination Task [FEDT]; Kerr & Neale, 1993) and social skill (Conversation Probe role-play test) performance in four groups: individuals “at risk” for psychosis who met criteria for a prodromal state, individuals early in the course of a schizophrenia spectrum illness (SSI), individuals with a chronic SSI, and healthy control individuals. Results. At-risk individuals did not significantly differ from control participants on emotion perception measures; however, early and chronic SSI groups performed significantly worse than controls, although not different from one another. Conversely, there was evidence that deficits in social skill are present prior to illness onset. Consistent with the findings for the emotion perception tasks, early and chronic SSI groups showed comparable levels of social skill impairment. Conclusion. Social skill deficits may be a vulnerability marker for schizophrenia, and it appears that the initial psychotic episode represents a critical point for the emergence of emotion perception deficits in schizophrenia spectrum illnesses.