Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Retail and Wholesale Gasoline Price Adjustments in Response to Oil Price Changes

This research examines the long-run relationship between the spot oil price and retail and wholesale gasoline prices. Recent research suggests that the response of the retail gasoline price is faster and the size of the change is larger, in magnitude, following a crude oil price increase compared with periods when the crude oil price is falling; however, some recent papers examining potential asymmetries present mixed results. Our results from a common threshold model estimating the adjustment of gasoline prices and the spot oil price suggest a long-run relationship between retail and wholesale gasoline prices and the crude oil price. Further, results here suggest that both retail and wholesale gasoline prices respond symmetrically to an oil price shock in the long run, indicating little market power by gas stations and wholesalers.
Prediction of activity mode with global positioning system and accelerometer data.

PURPOSE The primary aim of this pilot study was to assess how well the combination of global positioning system (GPS) and accelerometer data predicted different activity modes. METHODS Ten adults (seven male, three female; 23-51 yr) simultaneously wore a GPS unit and accelerometer during bouts of walking, jogging/running, bicycling, inline skating, or driving an automobile. Discriminant function analysis was used to identify a parsimonious combination of variables derived from accelerometer counts and steps and GPS speed that best classified mode. A total of 29 bouts were used to develop this classification criterion. This criterion was validated using two datasets generated from the complete collection of minute-by-minute values from all bouts. RESULTS Model development with "calibration" data showed that two accelerometer variables alone (median counts and steps) resulted in 26 of 29 bouts (90%) being correctly classified. Prediction of activity mode using counts and steps in a minute-by-minute "validation" dataset (N = 200) was 86.5%. Using three variables from the accelerometer and GPS (median counts, steps and speed) resulted in correct classification in 27 of 29 activity bouts in the "calibration" data (93%). In the "validation" dataset comprising 200 min, the combination of accelerometer counts and steps and GPS speed were able to correctly classify 91% of the observations. Walking and bicycling minutes were correctly classified most frequently (96%). In another "validation" dataset consisting of activity bouts, this combination of variables resulted in correct classification in 42 of 43 bouts (98%). CONCLUSION This pilot study provides evidence that the addition of GPS to accelerometer monitoring improves physical activity mode classification to a small degree. Larger studies among free-living individuals and with an expanded range of activities are needed to replicate the current findings and further determine the merits of using GPS with accelerometers for mode identification.
High–Reynolds Number Wall Turbulence

We review wall-bounded turbulent flows, particularly high–Reynolds number, zero–pressure gradient boundary layers, and fully developed pipe and channel flows. It is apparent that the approach to an asymptotically high–Reynolds number state is slow, but at a sufficiently high Reynolds number the log law remains a fundamental part of the mean flow description. With regard to the coherent motions, very-large-scale motions or superstructures exist at all Reynolds numbers, but they become increasingly important with Reynolds number in terms of their energy content and their interaction with the smaller scales near the wall. There is accumulating evidence that certain features are flow specific, such as the constants in the log law and the behavior of the very large scales and their interaction with the large scales (consisting of vortex packets). Moreover, the refined attached-eddy hypothesis continues to provide an important theoretical framework for the structure of wall-bounded turbulent flows.
Capped mesoporous silica nanoparticles as stimuli-responsive controlled release systems for intracellular drug/gene delivery

Importance of the field: The incorporation of stimuli-responsive properties into nanostructured systems has recently attracted significant attention in the research of intracellular drug/gene delivery. In particular, numerous surface-functionalized, end-capped mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN) materials have been designed as efficient stimuli-responsive controlled release systems with the advantageous ‘zero premature release’ property. Areas covered in this review: Herein, the most recent research progress on the design of biocompatible, capped MSN materials for stimuli-responsive intracellular controlled release of therapeutics and genes is reviewed. A series of hard and soft caps for drug encapsulation and a variety of internal and external stimuli for controlled release of different cargoes are summarized. Recent investigations on the biocompatibility of MSN both in vitro and in vivo are also discussed. What the reader will gain: The reader will gain an understanding of the challenges for the future exploration of biocompatible stimuli-responsive MSN devices. Take home message: With a better understanding of the unique features of capped MSN and its behaviors in biological environment, these multifunctional materials will find a wide variety of applications in the field of drug/gene delivery.
Addressing The Impact That Workshop Site Coordinators And Administrators Have On The Teaching Of Science In The Classroom

This dissertation studied the beliefs and practices of principals, workshop site coordinators, and science support personnel in two Central Florida school districts and compared those beliefs and practices to the literature on effective science in-service education. It is important to understand these beliefs and practices because they directly affect the content and pedagogical knowledge of classroom teachers, yet this aspect of instructional practices has been ignored in the science education literature. This study used a grounded theory methodology using open-ended individual interviews, participants observation, and documented analysis. Constant comparisons were built through analyzing the data. The research shows that in-service providers’ and administrators’ beliefs are aligned with the effective science education in-service literature. The conditions and context are ripe for changes because principals and workshop site coordinators’ beliefs are aligned with the literature and changes are already beginning to take place. The intervening conditions may lead to improved teacher knowledge, teaching, and learning because standardized testing is expanding to incoporate the content area of science. Also workshop site coordinators are trying to set up a variety of opportunities to attend workshops on the same topic throughout the school year. Budgets are being restructured at the school level and district level to incorporate more science content professional development. However, it is too early to show how much improvement there will be in standardized test scores or whether teachers’ have a deeper understanding of science content knowledge or effective science instruction.
“Trying to Find the Middle Ground”

U.S. federal drug policy has long emphasized criminalization and incarceration, and many negative policy outcomes have disproportionately impacted communities of color and Blacks in particular. The framework of harm reduction informs a range of alternative policy strategies from decriminalization to legalization, treating drugs more as a public health than a criminal justice issue. While Black communities are seen as opposing harm reduction with illicit drugs, Black leadership has recently supported ending the war on drugs. Using in-depth interviews with 21 substance abuse service providers in a Northeastern U.S. urban hub, this study explores views toward the potential impact of, and support for, harm reduction illicit drug policies in Black U.S. communities. Cognizant of the racially skewed impact of drug policies, respondents endorsed policy changes but were generally mixed on harm reduction, opposing liberalization of “hard” drugs, yet supporting it for marijuana given its link to race-based policing. Respondents indicate many Black communities need more than drug policy change, at best seeing harm reduction as only part of larger scale reinvestment. Findings inform considerations of reforming drug policy strategies and priorities for these communities, given views toward illicit drugs and racially skewed outcomes of current drug policy.
Checkerboard Plasma Electromagnetic Surface for Wideband and Wide-Angle Bistatic Radar Cross Section Reduction

Bistatic radar cross section (RCS) of a metal plate is reduced by an improved checkerboard surface cover. Plasma and metallic frequency selective surfaces are studied analytically to achieve a proper reflection phase interval. More than 140° phase of the reflected wave is obtained as a promising method to reduce the returned wave in the way of incident wave or any other directions. Hence, a checkerboard surface is designed using the concrete numerical and analytical solutions for backscattering cancellation. Monostatic and bistatic cross sections of metal screens are reduced with the designed plasma electromagnetic surface coat. The amount of bistatic (RCS) is analyzed with a valuable equation. Wide frequency band, vast incident wave angles, and different wave polarizations are achieved for the bistatic analysis. Incorporation of plasma dielectric with metal surface, reconfigurable design, and analysis of the bistatic backscattering of the structure are the promising achievements.
Strong societies and weak states: State-society relations and state capacities in the third world

An electrical spring contact made of conductive material having two jaws for receiving a cylindrical conductive terminal. The entire assembly is formed from a single flat sheet of metal and, in addition to the jaws, each contact unit includes a long tail extending away from the jaws and available for attachment to external wiring. The contact units are each inserted into a hole in an insulator sheet and are held in place by a corrugated strip which may be either an insulator or a conductor.
Dynamic Performance of Tubular Linear Actuator with Halbach Array and Mechanical Spring Driven by PWM Inverter

This paper deals with dynamic performance of the tubular linear actuator with mechanical spring driven by a pulse wide modulation (PWM) inverter for bidirectional drive. An equivalent electrical circuit was obtained for the tubular linear actuator with the mechanical component represented by a mass-spring system with motional impedance. By analyzing this circuit the variations in power factor, current, active and reactive power vs. frequency was investigated as well as the resonant circuit frequency. Experimental results for dynamic characteristics such as current and stoke are presented for various values of frequency including resonant frequency. In particular, discussion for experimental results at the resonant frequency is presented fully.
Psychometric testing of the modified Care Dependency Scale for Rehabilitation

Objective: To determine the psychometric properties of the modified Care Dependency Scale for Rehabilitation. Design: All patients were assessed independently by a different set of two randomly selected nurses. Setting and subjects: A convenience sample consisting of 1197 patients and 42 nurses was recruited in an Austrian rehabilitation centre specialized on the treatment and care of neurological and orthopaedic patients. Measures: The Care Dependency Scale for Rehabilitation and the Barthel Index. Data analysis: To estimate aspects of reliability, Cronbach’s alpha, Cohen’s kappa, percentage agreement, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and standard error of measurement (SEM) were calculated. To evaluate the construct validity, a factor analysis was conducted. Criterion-related validity was examined by comparing data of the modified Care Dependency Scale for Rehabilitation with the Barthel Index and Pearson calculation. Results: The calculation of Cronbach’s alpha yielded values of 0.97. Kappa values were between 0.89 and 0.96, values of percentage agreement between 96% and 99%, ICC values between 0.94 and 0.99, and SEM values between 0.08 and 0.17. Pearson (r) was 0.88. The factor analysis revealed a one-factor solution. Conclusion: The modified Care Dependency Scale for Rehabilitation shows a high internal consistency, as well as a high level of equivalence. Furthermore, criterion-related validity and construct validity have shown satisfying results.
I ran four million probits last night: HPC clustering with ParallelKnoppix

A high-performance computing (HPC) cluster is a group of computers that are networked together, and which have a software environment that allows a given computational task to be split up into parts that are evaluated on more than one CPU simultaneously. This can lead to dramatic reductions in the time needed to complete computations, in comparison to running them on a single CPU. ParallelKnoppix1 (PK) is a bootable CD that allows users with average computing skills to create an HPC cluster in very little time: about 10 minutes. The computers used in a PK cluster may be heterogeneous, and the cluster is temporary, in the sense that nothing is installed on the computers that are used in the cluster; they are not altered in any way. Thus, for example, the computers in a university computer room that are used by students during the day can be converted into an HPC cluster for night-time research work, without affecting their use by students the next day. This note describes what PK is, how it works, and how to set it up and use it. It shows how a Monte Carlo study that involves 4,000,000 nonlinear optimizations may be completed in less than 8 hours on a PK cluster, when it would take roughly 6.25 days on a single computer. The intention is to make econometricians aware of the existence of the tool and to give basic information on how to use it, along with pointers to additional sources of information. Creel (2005) presents additional examples of parallel programs and results that may be of interest to econometricians. The example presented in this paper as well as the examples from Creel (2005) are all contained on the latest version of the CD.
Pulmonary antioxidant enzyme activity during early development: Effect of ventilation

Objective To examine the effect of tidal liquid ventilation (TLV) and conventional gas ventilation (GV) on the pulmonary antioxidant enzyme (AOE) activity in two groups of preterm lambs at 110 and 120 days of gestation and to compare these results to age-matched fetal controls. Design Experimental, prospective, randomized, controlled study. Setting School of medicine, department of physiology. Subjects Thirty-two premature lambs at 110 days (n = 16) and 120 days (n = 16) gestation. Interventions Six lambs at 110 and 120 days were ventilated with TLV for 4 hrs. Three lambs at 110 days were ventilated with GV for 3 hrs, and six lambs at 120 days were ventilated with GV for 4 hrs. Four lambs, each at 110 and 120 days, were used as age-matched fetal controls. Measurements Sequential measurements of arterial blood chemistries were performed in all groups. Biochemical assays included catalase activity, superoxide dismutase activity, and glutathione peroxidase activity. Histologic examinations of lung sections from TLV and GV lungs were performed. Main Result Despite vast differences in physiologic outcome, there were fewer differences in AOE activity as a function of ventilation (fetal control, GV, and TLV lambs) and/or gestational age. There were no significant differences in superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity as a function of age or ventilation. Catalase activity was significantly higher (p < .05) in fetal 120-day control lambs (24.8 ± 1.9 units/mg protein) relative to the 110-day control lambs (14.3 ± 1.7 units/mg protein). Catalase activity significantly (p < .05) decreased in both GV and TLV 120 day lambs compared with fetal controls; yet, in the 110-day gestational lambs, there were no significant differences in enzyme level as a function of ventilation. Thus, an age-specific response to ventilation was evident for catalase activity. Conclusion The present data demonstrate several developmental differences in AOE activity. The lack of ventilation effect in AOE activity, in view of the big difference in physiologic and inflammatory outcomes, suggests that mechanisms associated with free radicals do not underlie the response to different modes of ventilation.
Earnings management by friendly takeover targets

Purpose - Accounting research has emphasized target and bidder managers' incentives to manipulate earnings during corporate control contests. However, prior studies examining earnings management by takeover targets have obtained mixed results. Moreover, the existing evidence is mainly based on US data and hostile mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions. The purpose of this study is to examine earnings management by friendly takeover targets in the year preceding the deal announcement in Switzerland. Design/methodology/approach - The paper examines earnings management practices of a sample of 50 Swiss firms that were targets of a friendly takeover proposition during the period 1990-2002. Discretionary accruals are used as a measure of earnings management. It uses a matching approach and a cross-sectional regression analysis to test the hypothesis of earnings management by takeover targets. Research limitations/implications - The paper expands and provides further international insights to the existing literature through the investigation of earnings management by takeover targets managers in a European setting and in a friendly corporate control environment. Originality/value - These empirical findings document the existence of a significant downward earnings management during the year preceding the transaction. These results suggest that earnings management incentives may differ between negotiated friendly and hostile disciplinary transactions.
Risk-Sensitive Investment Management

Over the last two decades, risk-sensitive control has evolved into an innovative and successful framework for solving dynamically a wide range of practical investment management problems. This book shows how to use risk-sensitive investment management to manage portfolios against an investment benchmark, with constraints, and with assets and liabilities. It also addresses model implementation issues in parameter estimation and numerical methods. Most importantly, it shows how to integrate jump-diffusion processes which are crucial to model market crashes. With its emphasis on the interconnection between mathematical techniques and real-world problems, this book will be of interest to both academic researchers and money managers. Risk-sensitive investment management links stochastic control and portfolio management. Because of its distinct emphasis on integrating advanced theoretical concepts into practical dynamic investment management tools, this book stands out from the existing literature in fundamental ways. It goes beyond mainstream research in portfolio management in a traditional static setting. The theoretical developments build on contemporary research in stochastic control theory, but are informed throughout by the need to construct an effective and practical framework for dynamic portfolio management. This book fills a gap in the literature by connecting mathematical techniques with the real world of investment management. Readers seeking to solve key problems such as benchmarked asset management or asset and liability management will certainly find it useful. Contents: Diffusion Models: The Merton Problem Risk-Sensitive Asset Management Managing Against a Benchmark Asset and Liability Management Investment Constraints Infinite Horizon Problems Jump-Diffusion Models: Jumps in Asset Prices General Jump-Diffusion Setting Fund Separation and Fractional Kelly Strategies Managing Against a Benchmark: Jump-Diffusion Case Asset and Liability Management: Jump-Diffusion Case Implementation: Factor and Securities Models Case Studies Numerical Methods Factor Estimation: Filtering and Black-Litterman Readership: Professionals, researchers, academics and graduate students in the field of investment management, stochastic optimization, stochastic analysis and probability, and quantitative finance.
Continuous-Review Policies for a Multi-Echelon Inventory Problem With Stochastic Demand

This paper considers a multi-stage, serial inventory system. The demand for the end item is stochastic and stationary. The relevant costs include a fixed ordering cost and an echelon inventory holding cost for each stage, and a backordering cost for the end item. The objective is to find a continuous-review inventory control policy that minimizes the expected average costs. We present and analyze an approximate cost model. Our approximation is analogous to that for the traditional single-item, continuous-review inventory model that assumes a reorder-point, reorder-quantity policy. We obtain policies that are natural extensions to those for the single-item model.
Power Flow Stabilization and Control of Microgrid with Wind Generation by Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage

High penetration of renewable energy sources such as wind generation in microgrids (MGs) causes fluctuations of power flow and significantly affects the power system (PS) operation. This can lead to severe problems, such as system frequency oscillations, and/or violations of power lines capability. With the proper control, superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) is able to significantly enhance the dynamic security of the PS. In an SMES system, the power conditioning system (PCS) is the crucial component that directly influences the validity of the SMES in the dynamic control of the PS. This paper proposes the use of an improved SMES controller for the stabilization and control of the power flow of wind-hybrid MGs. In this sense, the design and implementation of a novel high-performance PCS scheme of the SMES is described. Moreover, a detailed model of the SMES unit is derived and a novel three-level control scheme is designed, comprising a full decoupled current control strategy in the d -q reference frame and an enhanced PS frequency controller. The dynamic performance of the proposed systems is fully validated by computer simulation.
International variation in office yields: a panel approach

Purpose – The outlook for investment yields is one of the key uncertainties facing the real estate investor at any time. By examining the relationship of yields to other factors across a large number of office markets, in many countries, over five years, the paper aims to establish relationships with important explanatory factors.Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses a panel estimation to pick up both the relationship between yields and the explanatory variables both in different locations and at different times. By using both a time and location dimension it is thought that a “truer” generic relationship can be estimated. Using this method aggregates all the available information simultaneously to establish the relationship between office yields and explanatory variables.Findings – The results show that: locations with higher short‐term interest rates will on average have higher yields; liquid markets tend to have lower yields and similarly, transparent markets and markets with longer leases have .