Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Empirical Analysis of the Relation Between Daily Return Rate,Volatility and Trading Volume of Shanghai Stock Market Comprising Index Based on Nonlinar Dynamics

This paper investigates the relationships between return rate,return volatility and trading volume of Shanghai Stock Market Comprising Index.We measure return volatility by EGARCH(1,1)-M(exponential generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity) model and volatility of trading volume by ARMA(4,3)-ARCH(1) model.we build two-dimensional dynamic system of return rate and trading volume(R-V),return volatility and trading volume(h\-R-V),return volatility and volume volatility(h\-R-h\-V) by using stepwise regression method,and investigate the dynamic behaviour of these systems.The results indicate that there does not exist chaos in these two-dimensional dynamic systems composed by return and trading volume,return volatility and trading volume ,although many empirical analysis indicate that the time series of stock market return rate is chaotic.
Applications of vascular occlusion diminish disuse atrophy of knee extensor muscles.

PURPOSE We have previously shown that the combination of low-intensity resistive exercise and moderate vascular occlusion induces in humans a marked increase in growth hormone secretion and muscular hypertrophy. The present study investigated the effects of vascular occlusion on the size of thigh muscles in patients who underwent an operation for the reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament to see whether it attenuates the disuse muscular atrophy without any exercise combined. METHODS Two sessions of occlusive stimulus, each consisting of five repetitions of vascular occlusion (mean maximal pressure, 238 mm Hg) for 5 min and the release of occlusion for 3 min, were applied daily to the proximal end of the thigh from 3rd to 14th days after the operation. Changes in the cross-sectional area (CSA) of thigh muscles were analyzed with magnetic resonance images taken on the 3rd and 14th day after the operation. RESULTS Without occlusive stimulus (control), the CSAs of knee extensors and flexors decreased by 20.7 +/- 2.2% and 11.3 +/- 2.6% (mean +/- SEM, N = 8), whereas with the occlusive stimulus, they decreased by 9.4 +/- 1.6% and 9.2 +/- 2.6% (N = 8), respectively. The relative decrease in CSA of knee extensors was significantly (P < 0.05) larger in the control group than in the experimental group. CONCLUSION The results indicate that the occlusive stimulus effectively diminishes the postoperation disuse atrophy of knee extensors.
Field tests on flat ground of an intensity-difference based monocular visual odometry algorithm for planetary rovers

In this contribution, the experimental results of testing a monocular visual odometry algorithm in a real rover platform over flat terrain for localization in outdoor sunlit conditions are presented. The algorithm computes the three-dimensional (3D) position of the rover by integrating its motion over time. The motion is directly estimated by maximizing a likelihood function that is the natural logarithm of the conditional probability of intensity differences measured at different observation points between consecutive images. It does not requiere as an intermediate step to determine the optical flow or establish correspondences. The images are captured by a monocular video camera that has been mounted on the rover looking to one side tilted downwards to the planet's surface. Most of the experiments were conducted under severe global illumination changes. Comparisons with ground truth data have shown an average absolute position error of 0.9% of distance traveled with an average processing time per image of 0.06 seconds.
Process Evaluation of a Worksite Social and Physical Environmental Intervention

Objective: To evaluate the process of implementation of a social and physical environmental intervention and to explore differences regarding this process between both interventions. Methods: Context, recruitment, dose delivered, fidelity, reach, dose received, satisfaction, and implementation barriers were investigated. Results: Reach for the social and physical environmental interventions ranged from 45% to 76%. Mean satisfaction for the social environmental intervention was 6.0 and for the physical environmental intervention was 7.0. Generally, the results were higher for team leaders than for employees. Furthermore, the implementation of the physical intervention was better at the departments that additionally received the social intervention. Conclusion: Both interventions were better implemented on the level of the team leader than that of the employees. Furthermore, the combined interventions received higher evaluation scores. To increase satisfaction and participation, attention should be paid to both employees and team leaders during implementation.
Dynamic Reliability Models for Software Using Time-Dependent Covariates

This article presents a new model for software reliability characterization using a growth curve formulation that allows model parameters to vary as a function of covariate information. In the software reliability framework, covariates may include such things as the number of lines of code for a product throughout its development cycle and the number of customer licenses sold over the field life of a product. We describe a Bayesian framework for inference and model assessment, using Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques, that allows for incorporation of subjective information about the parameters through the assumed prior distributions. The methods are illustrated using simulated defect data and defect data collected during development for two large commercial software products.
Explosive force and fractionated reaction time in elderly low- and high-active women.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine whether muscle power, activation time, and neuromuscular stimulation are related to physical activity patterns in older women. METHODS Forty women (65-84 yr) were assigned to high-active (HA) and low-active (LA) groups on the basis of a historical activity questionnaire, and then they performed a series of maximal, voluntary, isometric knee extensions in a visually cued RT task. Fractionated RT measures were taken using three landmarks in the data: the presentation of the visual stimulus, the beginning of the EMG burst, and the initiation of force development. The rate and magnitude of neural stimulation were taken from surface EMG. RESULTS Peak torque was 15% greater, rate of torque development was 26% greater, motor time was 17% shorter, rate of EMG rise was 25% faster, and onset EMG magnitude was 15% greater in HA than in LA subjects (P<0.05). CONCLUSION These results indicate that older women with a history of vigorous activity can generate greater force, power, and motor output in comparison with their less active peers. The lower-body mass index of the HA subjects and 310% greater volume of physical activity are likely to account for the enhanced neuromuscular function seen. It is plausible that in addition to aging, physical inactivity is responsible for a large portion of the loss of neuromuscular function seen in older adults.
NIRS based brain activation mapping: A real-time application

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive neuroimaging technique that recently has been used to measure changes in cerebral blood oxygenation associated with brain activity. To date, there is no standard method for analyzing NIRS data, especially for real-time brain imaging applications. In this work, a novel real-time NIRS signal analysis framework based on the general linear model (GLM) and the Kalman estimator was devised. A set of simulated data was processed using the proposed framework. The results so obtained suggested that the method can effectively locate brain activation areas in real-time, thereby demonstrating its potential for real-time NIRS-based brain imaging applications.
The effects of organophosphate insecticide methidathion on lipid peroxidation and anti-oxidant enzymes in rat erythrocytes: role of vitamins E and C

The effects of organophosphate insecticide methidathion (MD) on lipid peroxidation and anti-oxidant enzymes and the ameliorating effects of a combination of vitamins E and C against MD toxicity were evaluated in rat erythrocytes. Experimental groups were: control group, MD-treated group (MD), and MD+vitamin E+vitamin Ctreated group (MD+Vit). MD and MD+Vit groups were treated orally with a single dose of 8 mg/kg MD body weight at 0 hour. Vitamins E and C were injected at doses of 150 mg/kg body weight, i.m. and 200 mg/kg body weight, i.p., respectively, 30 min after the treatment of MD in the MD+Vit group. Blood samples were taken 24 hours after the MD administration. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA), and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) were studied in the erythrocytes. MDA level increased significantly in the MD group compared to the control group (P <0.05) and decreased significantly in the MD+Vit group compared to the MD group (P <0.05). The activities of SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT decreased in the MD group compared to the control group (P<0.05). Only GSH-Px activity increased in the MD+Vit group compared with the MD group. These results suggest that treating rats with MD increases LPO and decreases anti-oxidant enzyme activities in erythrocytes. Furthermore, single-dose treatment with a combination of vitamins E and C 30 min after the administration of MD can reduce LPO caused by MD.
Incomplete punctal canalisation: the external and internal punctal membranes. Outcomes of membranotomy and adjunctive procedures

Aims To study the clinical and diagnostic profile of punctal dysgenesis with membranes, to classify and correlate the membranes clinicopathologically and study the outcomes of membranotomy. Methods A prospective interventional study involving 55 dysgenetic puncta of 22 consecutive patients seen between July 2008 ansd December 2011. Data collected include demographics, clinical presentation, laterality, age at presentation, duration of symptoms, slit lamp examination, punctal profiles, types of membranes, associated lacrimal anomalies, management and outcomes. All the patients underwent membranotomy, after which the puncta were assessed for adequacy of the opening, the canaliculi were assessed with probes and irrigation was done to assess the patency of the lacrimal system. A minimal follow-up of 6 months was taken for final analysis. Primary outcome measures included were anatomical patency on irrigation and relief from epiphora assessed subjectively and also objectively by a dye disappearance test. Results The patients included 11 males and 11 females, with a mean age of 82.4 months (range 5–264 months) at presentation. Bilateral punctal involvement was seen in 59% (13/22) and all the four puncta were affected in 31.8% (7/22) of the patients. Epiphora was the most common complaint noted in 95% (21/22), and the symptoms were noticed since birth in 68.1% (15/22). External membranes over the puncta were noted in 86.4% (19/22) and internal punctal membranes in 13.6% (3/22) of patients. All the patients underwent membranotomy, however additional procedures like probing was done in 13.6% (3/22), mini-monoka intubation in 9.1% (2/22), Crawford's bicanalicular intubation in 9.1% (2/22) and dacryocystorhinostomy in 4.5% (1/22). Uniformly, the punctal membranes on histopathological examination were fibrovascular membranes. The anatomical patency was 100% and relief from symptoms was seen in 91% (20/22) of the patients. Conclusions This study presents the largest series to date (n=55 puncta) exclusively on punctal dysgenesis with membranes and, for the first time, has shown the clinicopathological correlation of these membranes. Incomplete punctal canalisation is probably a better term and this study could be the starting point for further exploration into the etiopathogenesis and genetics of this intriguing congenital disorder.
Gross Domisitic Investment Growth Effeects on Growth of Some Micro and Macro Variables in Jordanian Economics (1987 - 2012 )

This paper aims to investigates the effect of growth of GDI as dependent variable in micro and macroeconomic variables growth such as GDP , Inflation ,exchange rate ,labor force which are used as independent variables , researcher utilized of quantitative method of econometrics to satisfied the aim of this study , OLS regression , Tobit regression , and Peirs – Winston method , the data collected from many sources such as Arab unified economic report m and other sources . result of analyses , researcher fund there is a proportional relationships between GDI growth and growth of GDP and Labor force growth , and inverse relationships between GDI growth and exchange rate changes and stability of government economic policies which considered as dummy variables , also no structural break point has been detect in analysis period 1999 up to 2012 , high volatility has been noticed on forecasting the path of GDI per time dur to many reasons their detailed is explained on paper paths . Key word : GDI, Jordan , quantitative method, OLS , effects of growth .
Extracellular potassium modulation of drug block of IKr. Implications for torsade de pointes and reverse use-dependence.

BACKGROUND Torsade de pointes often occurs with underlying hypokalemia and bradycardia. A common effect of many drugs producing torsade de pointes is block of the rapidly activating component of the cardiac delayed rectifier (IKr). In this study, we evaluated the effect of changing extracellular potassium ([K+]o) on IKr block by the nonspecific agent quinidine and by the specific IKr blocker dofetilide. METHODS AND RESULTS IKr was measured in AT-1 cells, where contaminating outward currents are absent. The drug concentration producing 50% inhibition of IKr tails (IC50) was strikingly [K+]o-dependent. Elevating [K+]o from 1 to 8 mmol/L increased the IC50 for dofetilide block from 2.7 +/- 0.9 to 79 +/- 32 nmol/L and for quinidine block from 0.4 +/- 0.1 to 3.8 +/- 1.2 mumol/L. CONCLUSIONS (1) The increase in drug block with low [K+]o provides a mechanism to explain the link between hypokalemia and torsade de pointes. (2) Elevations in [K+]o occur with myocardial ischemia and with rapid pacing. Possible consequences of blunted drug block with high [K+]o include loss of drug efficacy with ischemia and with rapid pacing; the latter may contribute to "reverse use-dependent" action potential prolongation. Extracellular potassium is a critical determinant of drug block of IKr, with substantial clinical implications.
Reciprocal Antagonism Coordinates C-type Natriuretic Peptide and Mitogen-signaling Pathways in Fibroblasts*

The fibroblast, a cell central to effective wound remodeling, not only contains various growth factor receptors but also high activities of a guanylyl cyclase receptor (GC-B). Here we demonstrate that marked elevations of cyclic GMP induced by C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), the ligand of GC-B, blocks activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade in fibroblasts. We also show that platelet-derived growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, serum, or Na3VO4 rapidly (within 5 min) and extensively (up to 85% inhibition) disrupt CNP-dependent elevations of cyclic GMP. In addition, the mitogens also lower cyclic GMP concentrations (50% decrease) in cells not treated with CNP. Cytoplasmic forms of guanylyl cyclase, in contrast to the CNP-stimulated pathway, are not antagonized by the various mitogens. The effects of the mitogens on cellular cyclic GMP are fully explained by a direct and stable inactivation of GC-B. Homogenates obtained from fibroblasts treated with or without the various mitogens contain equivalent amounts of GC-B protein, but both ligand-dependent and ligand-independent activity are markedly (up to 90% inhibition of CNP-dependent activity) decreased after mitogen addition. The stable inactivation is correlated with the dephosphorylation of phosphoserine and phosphothreonine residues of the cyclase receptor. These results not only establish a specific and reciprocal antagonistic relationship between mitogen-activated and GC-B-regulated signaling pathways in the fibroblast but also suggest that one of the earliest events following mitogen activation of a fibroblast is an interruption of cyclic GMP production from this receptor.
Finite Volume Method for 2D Linear and Nonlinear Elliptic Problems with Discontinuities

In this paper we study the approximation of solutions to linear and nonlinear elliptic problems with discontinuous coefficients in the discrete duality finite volume (DDFV) framework. This family of schemes allows very general meshes and inherits the main properties of the continuous problem. In order to take into account the discontinuities and to prevent consistency defect in the scheme, we propose to modify the definition of the numerical fluxes on the edges of the mesh where the discontinuity occurs. We first illustrate our approach by the study of the 1D situation. Then, we show how to design our new scheme, called m-DDFV, and we propose its analysis. We also describe an iterative solver, whose convergence is proved, which can be used to solve the nonlinear discrete equations defining the finite volume scheme. Finally, we provide numerical results which confirm that the m-DDFV scheme significantly improves the convergence rate of the usual DDFV method for both linear and nonlinear problems.
Adapting and Testing the Appraisal of Violent Situation Scales

The purpose of this study was to test the psychometric properties of a vertical version of horizontally oriented three Appraisal of Violent Situation scales that elicit women's subjective appraisals of severity, dangerousness, and controllability of violence. Construct validity of the vertical scale eliciting 64 abused women's perceptions of severity of violence experienced was supported by a low to modest correlation between that scale and the Severity of Violence Against Women Scale. Concurrent validity between the horizontal and vertical versions of the scales was demonstrated with a subsample of 26 abused women completing both. Results provide preliminary support for the revised scales.
Determinants of non-life insurance expenditure in developed and developing countries: an empirical investigation

ABSTRACT The determinants of non-life insurance expenditure in a panel data set covering 36 developed countries and 31 developing countries for the period 2000–2011 are analysed. Results of our instrumental variable analysis indicate that economic freedom, income, bank development, urbanization, culture and law systems are the key drivers of the non-life insurance expenditure across countries. However, their impacts differ significantly between the groups of developed and developing countries, suggesting that the heterogeneity among countries in terms of the level of development plays an important role. The global financial crisis is also found to influence the direction of those effects, especially in developed countries. The article yields useful policy and economic implications for governments and multinational non-life insurance companies with regard to the development of the non-life insurance sector, an important engine for economic growth and prosperity.
Employment Status, Income and the Subjective Well-Being of Immigrants

Migration theory suggests that individuals are leaving their country of origin due to the existence of an income dierential between the home and host economy. However, although the income situation abroad may improve, the question of life satisfaction in the host country arises. In this context, I study the subjective well-being of the foreign-born using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (1984-2005). Appyling (generalized) ordered logit models it is shown to what extent the immmigrants'life satisfaction is associated with their income situation as well as their employment status. Controlling for socio-economic characteristics, income has only a small, positive impact on subjective well-being. In addition, immigrants who are unemployed and/or bene…t from the welfare state exhibit a signi…cantly lower level of life satisfaction.
Cost estimation of automotive sheet metal components using knowledge-based engineering and case-based reasoning

Responding quickly to a customer's request with a sufficiently precise offer is one of the challenges faced by almost every manufacturing enterprise. Currently, necessary information is passed from department to department and in many cases this information is waiting to be processed. Further, number of offers that are converted into orders is small making the process of preparing an offer relatively costly. Research has been carried out to automatically determine process plans and estimate cost of simple sheet metal components. Unfortunately, this research has not been extended to simultaneously determine process plan and cost of complex deep drawn components. To overcome these drawbacks and to substantially improve the efficiency and precision of the time consuming process of offer preparation, a new methodology is presented which utilizes knowledge-based engineering and case-based reasoning. Inputs obtained to create an offer can be used to generate basic tool structure for the downstream processes.
Risk factors for asthma exacerbation in patients presenting to an emergency unit of a national referral hospital in Kampala, Uganda.

BACKGROUND Asthma exacerbations are caused by a variety of risk factors. Reducing exposure to these risk factors improves the control of asthma and reduces medication needs. Knowledge of the particular risk factors is essential in formulating controlling and treatment protocols. This study set out to determine the risk factors for asthma exacerbations in patients presenting to the emergency unit of Mulago Hospital. METHODS An unmatched case-control study involving 43 cases and 43 controls was conducted from November 2011 through February 2012. Asthma patients with exacerbations presenting to Mulago hospital's emergency unit were chosen as cases. The controls were asthma patients recruited from the hospital's outpatient department who had not had an exacerbation in the past 7 days. The study variables were age, sex, level of education, adherence to treatment, exercise, upper respiratory tract infections, household pets, smoking, strong emotions, exposure to in house wood or charcoal burning, weather, use of corticosteroids, beta-blockers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Univariate and multivariate statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 16 to identify independent risk factors for exacerbations. RESULTS Lack of corticosteroid use (OR = 22.109; 95% Confidence interval 6.952 to 70.315; p < 0.001) and presence of upper respiratory tract infections (OR 4.516; CI 1.258-16.213; p = 0.018) were significantly associated with exacerbations. CONCLUSION Lack of corticosteroid use and upper respiratory tract infections are associated with exacerbations in asthma patients presenting to the Emergency unit of Mulago Hospital.
Helminth Parasites of the Lizard Nothobachia ablephara (Gymnophthalmidae) in Caatinga Areas from the Sertão of Brazil

Abstract The lizard Nothobachia ablephara is endemic to dune areas and sandy soils adjacent to the São Francisco River in semiarid northeastern Brazil. Forty-nine lizard specimens were collected in 2 Caatinga areas in the municipality of Petrolina in Pernambuco state. Three gastrointestinal helminth taxa were identified, the nematodes Parapharyngodon alvarengai and Physaloptera sp. and the cestode Oochoristica sp. Nothobachia ablephara showed low parasite richness, but high levels of infection by P. alvarengai. There were no significant differences between the parasitism rates of the 2 study areas or between male and female lizards. This is the first study on parasitism in N. ablephara, thereby increasing knowledge of parasite fauna that infect gymnophthalmid lizards in the Sertão of Brazil.