Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Are Good Companies Good Stocks? Evidence from Nairobi Stock Exchange

The search for abnormal stock returns seems elusive for many investors in efficient markets unless there are anomalies in such markets. This has led to the development of numerous stock selection methods including the application of technical and fundamental analysis in an attempt to beat the market. There is uncertainty as to whether good companies that are defined by strong earnings and sales growth are also good stocks whose prices appreciate and outperform other stocks in the market. This research employs a study sample consisting of 32 companies listed in the NSE to establish the relationship between good companies and good stocks. The Pearson’s correlation coefficient and descriptive statistics techniques were employed. The results indicate that there is a strong positive correlation between the good companies and good stocks in the NSE.
Investigating Visual Feedforward for Target Expansion Techniques

Target expansion techniques facilitate the pointing task by enlarging the effective sizes of targets. When the target expansion is applied to both the motor and visual spaces, the visual feedforward mechanism is key: Indeed it provides a visual aid to the user on the effective expanded targets prior to the execution or completion of the pointing task, enabling the user to take full advantage of the target expansion technique. Focusing on feedforward mechanisms, we introduce a design space that allows us to describe, classify and design target expansion techniques. To do so we first introduce and characterize the concept of atomic feedforward mechanism along three design axes. We then describe a target expansion technique as a combination of atomic feedforward mechanisms using a matrix-based notation. We provide an analytical exploration of the design space by classifying existing techniques and by designing six new techniques. We also provide a first experimental exploration of the design space in the context of distant pointing. The experimental protocol includes an innovative target layout for handling non-centroidal target expansion. The results show that feedforward dynamicity increases movement time and decreases subjective usability, while explicit expansion observability efficiently supports error prevention for distant pointing.
Towards a gm/ID design methodology for polymer-based organic thin film transistors

In this paper we show based on experiments that an invariant representation exists for various polymer-based solution processable organic thin film transistors (OTFTs). Despite the fact that this technology suffers from a non-negligible spread of parameters, all experimental data exhibit low dispersion when represented in a g<inf>m</inf>/I<inf>D</inf> versus I<inf>D</inf> diagram. This result is important for circuit design strategy based on the g<inf>m</inf>/I<inf>D</inf> representation, giving more insight into analogue design methodology. In addition, the g<inf>m</inf>/I<inf>D</inf> invariant can also be used to extract the gate voltage mobility dependence that is inherent to organic field effect transistor.
Protein unfolding: Rigidity lost

We relate the unfolding of a protein to its loss of structural stability or rigidity. Rigidity and flexibility are well defined concepts in mathematics and physics, with a body of theorems and algorithms that have been applied successfully to materials, allowing the constraints in a network to be related to its deformability. Here we simulate the weakening or dilution of the noncovalent bonds during protein unfolding, and identify the emergence of flexible regions as unfolding proceeds. The transition state is determined from the inflection point in the change in the number of independent bond-rotational degrees of freedom (floppy modes) of the protein as its mean atomic coordination decreases. The first derivative of the fraction of floppy modes as a function of mean coordination is similar to the fraction-folded curve for a protein as a function of denaturant concentration or temperature. The second derivative, a specific heat-like quantity, shows a peak around a mean coordination of 〈r〉 = 2.41 for the 26 diverse proteins we have studied. As the protein denatures, it loses rigidity at the transition state, proceeds to a state where just the initial folding core remains stable, then becomes entirely denatured or flexible. This universal behavior for proteins of diverse architecture, including monomers and oligomers, is analogous to the rigid to floppy phase transition in network glasses. This approach provides a unifying view of the phase transitions of proteins and glasses, and identifies the mean coordination as the relevant structural variable, or reaction coordinate, along the unfolding pathway.
Unemployment Duration Before and After New Deal

A major active labour market policy - the New Deal for Young People (NDYP) - was introduced throughout the UK in 1998. We examine its effects on unemployment duration by estimating hazard functions for unemployment outflows before and after its introduction. We add value to existing evaluations in the following ways. First, we examine previously unused administrative data for Northern Ireland. Second, we examine NDYP effects at all unemployment durations. Third, we estimate separately by gender. Fourth, exits to employment, education and training and other benefits are identified separately. Since NDYP's introduction, young people are 25-50% less likely to experience year-long unemployment spells, with increased probabilities for all types of exit. NDYP is intended, however, to largely eradicate long term youth unemployment. We ask why this has not been the case in Northern Ireland.
Sig-SR: SimRank search over singular graphs

SimRank is an attractive structural-context measure of similarity between two objects in a graph. It recursively follows the intuition that "two objects are similar if they are referenced by similar objects". The best known matrix-based method [1] for calculating SimRank, however, implies an assumption that the graph is non-singular, its adjacency matrix is invertible. In reality, non-singular graphs are very rare; such an assumption in [1] is too restrictive in practice. In this paper, we provide a treatment of [1], by supporting similarity assessment on non-invertible adjacency matrices. Assume that a singular graph G has n nodes, with r(<n) being the rank of its adjacency matrix. (1) We show that SimRank matrix S on G has an elegant structure: S can be represented as a rank r matrix plus a scaled identity matrix. (2) By virtue of this, an efficient algorithm over singular graphs, InvSR, is proposed for calculating all-pairs SimRank in O(r(n2+Kr2)) time for K iterations. In contrast, the only known matrix-based algorithm that supports singular graphs [1] needs O(r4n2) time. The experimental results on real and synthetic datasets demonstrate the superiority of InvSR on singular graphs against its baselines.
FERMI @ Elettra: a Seeded FEL Facility for EUV And Soft X-Rays

We describe the conceptual design and major performance parameters for the FERMI@Elettra Free Electron Laser (FEL) project funded for construction at Sincrotrone Trieste, Italy. This user facility complements the existing storage ring light source at Sincrotrone Trieste, and will be the first facility to be based on seeded harmonic cascade FELs. Seeded FELs provide high peak power pulses, with controlled temporal duration of the coherent output allowing tailored x-ray output for time domain explorations with short pulses of 100 fs or less, and high resolution with output bandwidths of the order of meV. The facility uses the existing 1.2 GeV S-band linac, driven by electron beam from a new highbrightness RF photocathode gun, and will provide tunable output over a range from ~100 nm to ~10 nm, and APPLE undulator radiators allow control of x-ray polarization. Initially, two FEL cascades are planned, a single-stage harmonic generation to operate over ~100 nm to ~40 nm, and a two-stage cascade operating from ~40 nm to ~10 nm or shorter wavelengh, each with spatially and temporally coherent output, and peak power in the GW range.
An Efficient Pre-computation Technique for Approximation Distance Query in Road Networks

The problem of computing minimum distance of moving objects in large-scale road networks has caught many researchers` attention in recent years. One of solutions is to reduce the complexity by selecting representative node for each node in graph, in which the mininum distance of two nodes can be obtained by computing the distance between their representative nodes. The distance between any two representative nodes is pre-computed. In this paper we propose an effective algorithm to select and allocate a fixed number of representative nodes in road networks, then analyse the relationship between the size of representative node set and the approximation distance error of node pairs. We evaluate our approach on a real data set. The evaluation result shows the size of representative nodes set affects the approximation distance error of node pairs, and the appropriate choice for size of representative nodes set could improve the performance of precomputation and make the result more accurate and reliable.
A Dual-Regime Utility Model for Poverty Analysis

This paper offers a micro-founded general definition of poverty set in the context of utility theory. Poverty and non-poverty are described as two structurally different types of local non-satiation: the former entails a strong need for further consumption and social marginalization, the latter is characterized by a weak need for further consumption and satisfactory adjustment to social expectations. Each of the states can be fully described by a separate technology of utility production. The model is tested on data from the Bank of Italy's Survey of Household Income and Wealth; an indicator of self-reported economic satisfaction is regressed on yearly consumption of food and non-food commodities. The predictions of the model are confirmed in the case of food consumption, signalling the existence of physiological minima that are uniformly perceived by individuals. For non-food commodities, no significant change of regimes is found: welfare appears to be connected with needs that are less exposed to structural variation, possibly because they are not as urgent or objective as food-related ones.
Multi-Feature Fusion Using Multi-GMM Supervector for SVM Speaker Verification

This paper proposes a novel multi-feature fusion approach using Multi-GMM supervector and Support Vector Machine for text-independent speaker verification. By the UBM- MAP framework, the variable number of feature vectors (MFCC, LPCC) can be transformed into a vector (GMM supervector). Concatenating the GMM supervectors from different features, a new Multi-GMM supervector is formed for SVM. Experiments on text-independent speaker verification in NIST'04 10sec-10sec female data showed the successful fusion of MFCC and LPCC in feature level.
Enhancement of CSMA/CA and Network Coding in Single-Relay Multi-User Wireless Networks

Network coding is a promising technique for improving system performance in wireless multihop networks. In this paper, the throughput and fairness in single-relay multi-user wireless networks are evaluated. The carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) protocol and network coding are used in the medium access control (MAC) sublayer in such networks. The fairness of wireless medium access among stations (STAs), the access point (AP), and the relay station (RS) results in asymmetric bidirectional flows via the RS; as a result the wireless throughput decreases substantially. To overcome this problem, an autonomous optimization of minimum contention window size is developed for CSMA/CA and network coding to assign appropriate transmission opportunities to both the AP and RS. By optimizing the minimum contention window size according to the number of STAs, the wireless throughput in single-relay multi-user networks can be improved and the fairness between bidirectional flows via the RS can be achieved. Numerical analysis and computer simulations enable us to evaluate the performances of CSMA/CA and network coding in single-relay multi-user wireless networks.
Proteolytic Cleavage at Twin Arginine Residues Affects Structural and Functional Transitions of Lupin Seed 11S Storage Globulin

The 11S storage globulin of white lupin seeds binds to a metal affinity chromatography matrix. Two unusual stretches of contiguous histidine residues, reminiscent of the multiple histidines forming metal binding motifs, at the C-terminal end of 11S globulin acidic chains were hypothesized as candidate elements responsible for the binding capacity. To prove this, the protein was incubated with a lupin seed endopeptidase previously shown to cleave at twin arginine motifs, recurrent in the sequence region of interest. Upon incubation with this enzyme, the loss of metal binding capacity paralleled that of the anti-his-tag reactive polypeptides. The recovered small proteolytic fragment was analyzed by mass spectrometry and N-terminal sequencing and found to correspond to the 24-mer region cleaved off at twin arginine residues and containing the natural his-tag-like region. Similarly, when lupin seeds were germinated for a few days, the his-tag containing 11S globulin chain was converted to a form devoid of such region, suggesting that this mechanism is a part of the natural degradatory process of the protein. The hypothesis that the ordered and controlled dismantling of storage proteins may generate peptide fragments with potential functional roles in plant ontogenesis is presented and discussed.
CSC2411 - Linear Programming and Combinatorial Optimization Lecture 6: The Ellipsoid Method: an Introduction

This lecture introduces the Ellipsoid Method, the first polynomialtime algorithm to solve LP. We start by discussing the historical significance of its discovery by L. Khachiyan. Next, we argue that the ability to decide the feasibility of a version of the constraints of an LP is as hard as solving the LP. To gather the intuition behind the Ellipsoid Method, we draw an analogy with a problem of finding a large creature in a constrained space. Through this analogy, we formulate 3 “ingredients” that we require of the potential algorithm that will find this creature. Next, we show that each of these ingredients exists for the feasibility problem we are solving. Finally, we discuss the need for ellipsoids as the bounding volumes used to locate the feasible set. As a result, we are able to sketch the pseudocode of the Ellipsoid Method, whose correctness and polynomial time complexity is demonstrated. As preparation for the upcoming lecture, we consider expressing an ellipsoid using a positive semi-definite matrix.
Centre for Technology Management Employment growth of new firms

These papers are produced by the Institute for Manufacturing, at the University of Cambridge Engineering Department. They are circulated for discussion purposes only and should not be quoted without the author's permission. Your comments and suggestions are welcome and should be directed to the first named author. Abstract This paper analyses the association between dynamic capabilities and new firm growth, controlling for measures of firm resources, characteristics of the entrepreneur, and aspects of the environment. The central research question is: How strong is the relationship between dynamic capabilities and the growth of new firms? The paper opens with a review of empirical studies on employment growth in new firms and then moves on to a discussion on the role of dynamic capabilities in the explanation of new firm growth. After a description of the data and variables the results and implications of this study are discussed.
Newcomers' Socialization by Intranet System

Newcomers¡¦ socialization is an important issue to organizations. It wastes finances if they have to recruit new members again and again. Nowadays, Intranet applications provide a new format by which companies can take advantage. Intranet is a popular in house system used within the company. Intranet use is unavoidable when new staff members begin their job. It¡¦s possible to help keep newcomers from changing positions by using the Intranet to improve their socialization. This study aims to understand how Intranet information affects information-seeking behavior in the process of newcomers¡¦ organizational socialization. The results are as follows: (1) From an information perspective, newcomers are passive in receiving information via the Intranet. Newcomers primarily get reference information from the Intranet, followed by appraisal information, and then relationship information. It¡¦s helpful for understanding their job as well as the organization and history of organizational socialization. (2) From a communication perspective, the newcomers are aggressive in seeking information from the Intranet. Most newcomers primarily get relationship information, followed by reference information, and then appraisal information from the Intranet. It¡¦s helpful in understanding the task proficiency requirements, people, language and politics of organizational socialization. The study conclusions show that the Intranet system is helpful in information seeking and socialization from both information and communication perspectives. Also, information and communication perspectives are complementary to each other in regard to newcomer socialization. Constructing an excellent Intranet system will improve newcomers¡¦ socialization better and faster. The Intranet can become a useful and people-inclusive socialization environment.
An Algorithm for Boundary Adjustment toward Multi-Scale Adaptive Segmentation of Remotely Sensed Imagery

A critical step in object-oriented geospatial analysis (OBIA) is image segmentation. Segments determined from a lower-spatial resolution image can be used as the context to analyse a corresponding image at a higher-spatial resolution. Due to inherent differences in perceptions of a scene at different spatial resolutions and co-registration, segment boundaries from the low spatial resolution image need to be adjusted before being applied to the high-spatial resolution image. This is a non-trivial task due to considerations such as noise, image complexity, and determining appropriate boundaries, etc. An innovative method was developed in the study to solve this. Adjustments were executed for each boundary pixel based on the minimization of an energy function characterizing local homogeneity. It executed adjustments based on a structure which rewarded movement towards edges, and superior changes towards homogeneity. The developed method was tested on a set of Quickbird, ASTER and a lower resolution, resampled, Quickbird image, over a study area in Ontario, Canada. Results showed that the adjusted-segment boundaries obtained from the lower resolution imagery aligned well with the features in the Quickbird imagery.
G7 Current Account Imbalances

The current account deficit of the United States is more than six percent of its gross domestic product—an all-time high. And the rest of the world, including other G7 countries such as Japan and Germany, must collectively run current account surpluses to finance this deficit. How long can such unevenness between imports and exports be sustained, and what form might their eventual reconciliation take? Putting forth scenarios ranging from a gradual correction to a crash landing for the dollar, G7 Current Account Imbalances brings together economists from around the globe to consider the origins, status, and future of those disparities. An esteemed group of collaborators here examines the role of the bursting of the dot-com bubble, the history of previous episodes of current account adjustments, and the possibility of the Euro surpassing the dollar as the leading international reserve currency. Though there are areas of broad agreement—that the imbalances will ultimately decline and that currency revaluations will be part of the solution—many areas of contention remain regarding both the dangers of imbalances and the possible forms of adjustment. This volume will be of tremendous value to economists, politicians, and business leaders alike as they look to the future of the G7 economies.
Discovering Important Nodes Through Graph Entropy Encoded in Urban Space Syntax

Potentially influential spaces in the spatial networks of cities can be detected by means of the entropy participation ratios. Local (connectivity) and global (centrality) entropies are considered. While the connectivity entropy has a tendency to increase with the city size, the centrality entropy is decreasing that reflects the global connectedness of cities. In urban networks, the local and global properties of nodes are positively correlated that indicates the intelligibility of cities. Correlations between entropy participation ratios can be used in purpose of intelligibility measurements and city networks comparisons.
Image interpolation using a variation-based approach

The goal of image interpolation is to produce a high-resolution image from its low-resolution counterpart. It has significant applications in video sensor network, where the resolution of images usually need to be enhanced at the end user due to the limited transmission bandwidth. The key challenge of image interpolation is to preserve the edge structure of the image. In this paper, a new image interpolation approach is proposed to adaptively adjust the interpolation according to the directional variations of images. More specifically, at each pixel position to be interpolated, its neighboring pixels are projected according to a number of proposed patterns. Then the direction of which the variation is smallest is chosen as the direction to perform image interpolation. Experimental results are provided to show that the proposed approach outperforms several conventional edge-directed image interpolation algorithms.
Actin-based propulsive forces and myosin-II-based contractile forces in migrating Dictyostelium cells

It has been suggested that myosin II exerts traction forces at the posterior ends and retracting pseudopodia of migrating cells, but there is no direct evidence. Here, using a combination of total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy and force microscopy with a high spatial resolution of ∼400 nm, we simultaneously recorded GFP-myosin II dynamics and traction forces under migrating Dictyostelium cells. Accumulation of filamentous myosin II and a subsequent increase in traction forces were detected in pseudopodia just before retraction. In the case of motorless myosin II, traction forces did not increase after accumulation, suggesting that the source of the retraction force is the motor activity of accumulated myosin II. Simultaneous recording of F-actin and traction forces revealed that traction forces were exerted under spot-like regions where F-actin accumulated. Cells migrated in a direction counter to the sum of the force vectors exerted at each spot, suggesting that the stress spots act as scaffolds to transmit the propulsive forces at the leading edge generated by actin polymerization.