Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measuring the Degree of Financial Market Efficiency: An Essay

This essay discusses first two competing hypotheses of market efficiency: the classical Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH) of Samuelson and Fama, and the Fractal Market Hypothesis (FMH) of Mandelbrot and Peters and their weaknesses. The EMH depends on the empirically uncorroborated i.i. d. (= independence & stationarity) assumption of market innovations. The time - invariant FMH risk depends on the lengths of time horizons, as measured by the Hurst exponent. By way of empirical examples in the cash, bond and options an futures markets, it is demonstrated that scientifically a much broader concept of financial market risk is needed. This new risk concept should allow for the measurement of the degree of market efficiency, which is time and horizon dependent. The proposed definition of financial market risk is a time - frequency distribution function P, where the shape of the function is determined not only by the second-order moments sigma(omega), differentiated by the investment asset return categorizations omega, but also of the length investment horizons, or maturities of the investment securities tau, and of the time period t. In other words, the new concept of financial risk P(omega,tau,t) should be able to account for both LT and ST nonlinear time dependence and for strict non-stationarity to be empirically compatible and thus scientifically acceptable. Such a time - frequency distribution P(omega,tau,t) can be measured and identified by modern forms of time - frequency signal processing analysis, like windowed Fourier and wavelet multiresolution analysis.
Atmospheric electrical field measurements near a fresh water reservoir and the formation of the lake breeze

In order to access the effect of the lakes in the atmospheric electrical field, measurements have been carried out near a large man-made lake in southern Portugal, the Alqueva reservoir, during the ALqueva hydro-meteorological EXperiment 2014. The purpose of these conjoint experiments was to study the impact of the Alqueva reservoir on the atmosphere, in particular on the local atmospheric electric environment by comparing measurements taken in the proximity of the lake. Two stations 10 km apart were used, as they were located up- and down-wind of the lake (Amieira and Parque Solar, respectively), in reference to the dominant northwestern wind direction. The up-wind station shows lower atmospheric electric potential gradient (PG) values than the ones observed in the down-wind station between 12 and 20 UTC. The difference in the atmospheric electric PG between the up-wind and the down-wind station is ~30 V/m during the day. This differential occurs mainly during the development of a lake breeze, between 10 and 18 UTC, as a consequence of the surface temperature gradient between the surrounding land and the lake water. In the analysis presented, a correlation is found between the atmospheric electric PG differences and both wind speed and temperature gradients over the lake, thus supporting the influence of the lake breeze over the observed PG variation in the two stations. Two hypotheses are provided to explain this observation: (1) The air that flows from the lake into the land station is likely to increase the local electric conductivity through the removal of ground dust and the transport of cleaner air from higher altitudes with significant light ion concentrations. With such an increase in conductivity, it is expected to see a reduction of the atmospheric electric PG; (2) the resulting air flow over the land station carries negative ions formed by wave splashing in the lake's water surface, as a result of the so-called balloelectric effect. These negative ions will form a space-charge density (SCD) that can reduce the atmospheric electric PG. A formulation is derived here in order to estimate the local SCD.
A new modified multi-electrode stimulation method for ECAP recording in cochlear implant

Cochlear implant systems are based on stimulation of the auditory nerve fibers by electrical current with implanted electrodes. In the clinical tests, based on stimulation by electrical current and recording the evoked compound action potential (CCAP) same as neural response telemetry (NRT), electrical behavior and population distribution of the nerve fibers can be evaluated. Stimulation parameter in mimicking the normal hearing can be determined by the results of these tests. Condition of these tests is different from the actual stimulation for hearing, both in amplitude and time sequence of the stimulation current pulses. Therefore, there are some problems in the mapping the test results to stimulation parameters. At this paper, we have presented a new selective nonsimultaneous multi-electrode stimulation (NSMES) method based on applying the inhibitory pre-pulses by lateral electrodes that changes the initial conditions of the fibers to focus on the target fibers. The results of simulations show that this method will penalize undesired population distribution of the remained excitable fibers and it has been distinguished from the desired one. To estimate the electrical behavior of the fibers in normal use of the system for hearing, which has much more pulse rate than the test condition, we assumed a probabilistic function for recovery time of the fibers to map the test results to hearing condition parameters. Simulation results show that the stimulation electrode array parameters can be determined more accurately by the presented modification qualitatively and quantitatively.
In-pixel voltage-controlled ring-oscillator for phase interpolation in ToF image sensors

The design and measurements of a CMOS pseudodifferential voltage-controlled ring-oscillator (VCRO) are presented. It is aimed to act as time interpolator for arrayable picosecond time-to-digital convertors (TDC). This design is incorporated into a 64×64 array of TDCs for time-of-flight (ToF) measurement. It has been fabricated in a 0. 18μ™ standard CMOS technology. Small occupation area of 28×29μm2 and low average power consumption of 1.17mW at 850MHz are promising figures for this application field. Embedded phase alignment and instantaneous start-up time are required to minimize the offset of time interval measurements. The measured gain of the VCRO is of 477MHz/V with a frequency tuning range of 53%. Moreover it features a linearity of 99.4% over a wide range of control frequencies, namely from 400MHz to 850MHz. The phase noise is of 102dBc/Hz at 2MHz offset frequency from 850MHz.
Cytoplasm-To-Nucleus Shuttling Of Thyroid Hormone Receptor-β1 (Trβ1) Is Directed From A Plasma Membrane Integrin Receptor By Thyroid Hormone

Introduction. In CV-1 cells, shuttling from cytoplasm to nucleus of the nuclear thyroid hormone receptor-β1 (TRβ1, TR) is shown in this report to be regulated by extracellular thyroid hormone at a hormone receptor on cell surface integrin αv3. Methods. The receptor was introduced into cells as a GFP-TR1 chimera and intracellular movement of the receptor was monitored by confocal microscopy of cells treated with L-thyroxine (T4). Results and Discussion. TR-GFP translocation in the presence of T4 requires activation of extracellular-regulated protein kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2). Inhibition of T4-binding to αvβ3 with anti-αvβ3 or Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide blocks T4-stimulated GFP-TR nuclear translocation, as do the hormone-binding inhibitor tetraiodothyroacetic acid (tetrac) and the ERK1/2 inhibitor, PD98059. TR1 is an ERK1/2 substrate. Conclusions. Via a nongenomic mechanism initiated at plasma membrane integrin v3, T4-activated ERK1/2 and TR1 move transiently in an immunoprecipitable complex to the nuclei of T4-treated cells.
Differences in activity limitation, pain intensity, and global health in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Sweden and the USA: a 5-year follow-up

Objective: In this study we compared activity limitations, pain intensity, and global health in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Sweden and the USA and aimed to determine whether nationality is associated with these outcomes. Methods: We used longitudinal data from the ‘Swedish TIRA project’ (n = 149) and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) RA panel study (n = 85). Data were collected annually concerning use of medications [disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), biologics, and corticosteroids], morning stiffness, number of swollen joints, and number of painful joints. Three self-reported outcome measures were examined: pain intensity measured on a 0–100 visual analogue scale (VAS), activity limitation according to the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), and global health. To analyse the data, the Student’s t-test, the χ2-test, and the generalized estimating equation (GEE) method were used. Results: Nationality was significantly related to HAQ score and pain intensity, even after adjustment for covariates. The patients in the TIRA cohort reported a lower HAQ score and a higher pain intensity than the patients in the UCSF cohort. Nationality was not related to global health. Conclusion: Patients with RA should be assessed with awareness of the psychosocial and cultural context because disability seems to be affected by nationality. Further knowledge to clarify how a multinational setting affects disability could improve the translation of interventions for patients with RA across nationalities.
Testing the Theory of Purchasing Power Parity for Slovenia and Hungary

This paper checks the validity of the theory of purchasing power parity for Slovenia and Hungary, compared to Austria, Germany, France, and Italy, by employing data from January 1992 to December 2001. Results of unit root tests indicate that only the real exchange rate of the Hungarian forint to the Italian lira is stationary. Although some cointegration was found among nominal exchange rates and selected consumer price indexes, the theory of PPP could not be confirmed. The empirical work completed so far reveals that the underlying cause of real exchange rate appreciation in both transition countries stems from differences in relative productivity gains and steady price increases due to insufficient competition in the nontradable sector.
The Impact of Democracy Assistance on NGO Sustainability in Kyrgyzstan

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided millions of dollars in assistance to emerging civil society organizations in Kyrgyzstan through its Democracy and Governance program. Although the concept of civil society encompasses many different types of associations, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are a critical element of civil society. An unusually large number of NGOs exist in Kyrgyzstan, compared to neighboring countries in Central Asia, and a majority of these NGOs are located in the capital, Bishkek. However, more important than the sheer number of organizations is the degree to which they are sustainable, or able to function effectively in the long term. In order to examine the impact of democracy assistance on NGO sustainability, the researchers conducted in-depth interviews with fourteen NGOs in Bishkek and one interview with USAID. The results show that: 1) although many NGOs have achieved substantive success in Kyrgyzstan, they still depend on international assistance in order to carry out their activities; 2) this situation is caused by a lack of alternative funding options, such as corporate philanthropy and government assistance; and 3) USAID assistance in particular is awarded to a select number of organizations (termed “implementers”) which are themselves highly sustainable, however the aid is not reaching the bulk of indigenous NGOs. The extent to which aid is being passed on from implementers to indigenous NGOs is still unclear, and further research is needed to determine the impact of this indirect assistance.
Managerial Share Ownership and the Stock Price Effects of Antitakeover Amendment Proposals

Studies that test for an average stock price effect of antitakeover amendments present different results, disagreeing with respect to both the significance and the direction of the effect. This study determines whether effects can be identified when managerial share ownership and amendment type are considered. Results suggest a negative relation between managerial share ownership and the stock price reaction to all but fair price amendment proposals. Copyright 1990 by American Finance Association.
The effect on the Swedish real economy of the financial crisis

This article investigates the effects of the financial crisis on the Swedish real economy. In order to do this, an index which describes the financial conditions of the Swedish economy is developed. The index indicates that domestic Swedish financial conditions have deteriorated substantially during 2008 and are now at the highest level since the crisis of the early 1990s. A Bayesian Vector Autoregression (BVAR) model with both US and Swedish variables is used to assess the quantitative effects of the financial crisis on Swedish real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth. Results suggest that the growth of the Swedish economy will be substantially slower in the next couple of years due to the financial crisis.
Specific somatotopic organization of functional connections of the primary motor network during resting state

Regions of the primary motor network are known to show a high level of spontaneous functional connectivity during rest. Resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have reported the left and right motor cortex to form a single resting‐state network, without examining the specific organization of the functional connections between subregions of the primary motor network. The primary motor cortex has a somatotopic organization, clearly separating regions that control our feet from regions that control our fingers and other body parts. In this study, 3 T resting‐state fMRI time‐series of 46 healthy subjects were acquired; and for all subregions along the precentral gyrus, the location of the maximum level of functional connectivity within the contralateral primary motor cortex was computed, together with whole brain functional connectivity maps, to examine a possible somatotopic organization of the functional connections of the motor network. Subregions of the primary motor cortex were found to be most strongly functionally linked to regions in the contralateral hemisphere with a similar spatial location along the contralateral primary motor cortex as the selected seed regions. On the basis of the knowledge of a somatopic organization of the primary motor network, these findings suggest that functional subregions of the motor network are one‐on‐one linked to their functional homolog in the contralateral hemisphere and organized in a somatotopic fashion. Examining the specific organization of the functional connections within the primary motor network could enhance our overall understanding of the organization of resting‐state functional communication within the brain. Hum Brain Mapp, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identification, Synthesis, and Enzymology of Non‐natural Glucosinolate Chemopreventive Candidates

Isothiocyanates (ITCs) are one of the many classes of breakdown products of glucosinolates found in crucifers such as broccoli and are thought to be partially responsible for the reduced risk of degenerative diseases associated with the consumption of vegetables. The production of ITCs such as L‐sulforaphane is dependent on the hydrolytic bioactivities of myrosinase, localized both within vegetable tissues and within flora of the human GI tract, and is associated with important cancer chemopreventive activities. We hypothesized that novel isothiocyanates with enhanced chemopreventive properties relative to L‐sulforaphane could be identified and that their glucosinolate precursors could be synthesized. From a library of 30 synthetic ITCs, we identified several with bioactivities equal or superior to those of L‐sulforaphane. The corresponding non‐natural glucosinolate precursors to these novel ITCs were constructed and found to be substrates for myrosinase. By utilizing a novel RP‐HPLC assay to monitor myrosinase‐dependent hydrolysis reactions, 2,2‐diphenylethyl glucosinolate and (biphenyl‐2‐yl)methyl glucosinolate were shown to exhibit 26.5 and 2.8 %, respectively, of the relative activity of sinigrin and produced their corresponding ITCs in varying yields. These data support the notion that non‐natural glucosinolates can act as prodrugs for novel ITCs, with a mechanism of action reliant on their hydrolytic cleavage by myrosinase. Such non‐natural glucosinolates may serve as very economical chemopreventive agents for individuals at risk for cancers of and around the GI tract.
The Restructuring of the Military High Command in the Seventh Harmonization Package and its Ramifications for Civil–Military Relations in Turkey

Abstract In order to satisfy the European laws and regulations that constitute the European Union acquis of the Copenhagen criteria, the ruling Justice and Development Party legislated a total of nine harmonization laws from 2002 to 2004. This essay focuses on four amendments made within the Seventh Harmonization Package, which restructured the composition and functions of the National Security Council, causing speculation that such reforms would emasculate the centrifugal power of the military high command, shifting the balance of civil–military relations to the suits. This essay challenges the view that reforms have brought about a change in civil–military relations in Turkey. Using a number of examples, it will be shown that the balance of power in fact remains in favor of the military.
Multiunit Pay-Your-Bid Auction with One-Dimensional Multiunit Demands

An arbitrary number of units of a good is sold to two bidders through a discriminatory auction. The bidders are homogeneous ex ante and their demand functions are two-step functions that depend on a single parameter. We characterize the symmetric Bayesian equilibrium and prove its existence and uniqueness. We compare this equilibrium with the equilibrium of the multiunit Vickrey auction and with the equilibria of the single-unit first price and second price auctions. We examine the consequences of bundling all units into one package. We study the impacts that variations of the "relative" supply have on the equilibrium, on the bidders' average payoffs per unit, and on the efficiency of the equilibrium allocation. Copyright 2003 By The Economics Department Of The University Of Pennsylvania And Osaka University Institute Of Social And Economic Research Association.
The Collaborative Nature of Interruption Handling

Interruptions have become an indispensible and ubiquitous part of multi-project knowledge work. While most existing studies analyze the effects of interruptions from the perspective of the interrupted individual, in this paper I propose to interpret task interruptions as events that are embedded in a rich social context. Handling interruptions therefore becomes a collective activity that depends on the interplay of a variety of actors. Interruption planning and task resumption are portrayed as collaborative processes: the paper presents six corresponding design guidelines for organizational and technological support. By the example of three prototypes, different possibilities to support knowledge workers in handling interruptions are discussed and put to the test.
CEOs, Abandoned Acquisitions, and the Media

ing and Indexing Services The Journal is indexed by Accounting and Tax Index, Emerald Management Reviews (Online Edition), Environmental Science and Pollution Management, Risk Abstracts (Online Edition), and Banking Information Index. Disclaimer The Publisher, Cantillon and Mann, its affiliates, and Editors cannot be held responsible for errors or any consequences arising from the use of information contained in this journal; the views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Publisher, Cantillon and Mann, its affiliates, and Editors, neither does the publication of advertisements constitute any endorsement by the Publisher, Cantillon and Mann, its affiliates, and Editors of the products advertised. Copyright © 2015 Cantillon and Mann. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission in writing from the copyright holder. Authorization to photocopy items for internal and personal use is granted by the copyright holder for libraries and other users registered with their local Reproduction Rights Organization (RRO), e.g. Copyright Clearance Center (CCC), 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, USA (www.copyright.com), provided the appropriate fee is paid directly to the RRO. This consent does not extend to other kinds of copying such as copying for general distribution, for advertising or promotional purposes, for creating new collective works or for resale. Special requests should be addressed to: permissions@wiley.com.
How to give and receive  feedback effectively

In most European countries, feedback is embedded in education, training and daily professional activities. It is a valuable tool for indicating whether things are going in the right direction or whether redirection is required. In the world of healthcare professionals, it is intended to provide doctors with information about their practice through the eyes of their peers. Feedback is a valuable tool for doctors to gather information, consolidate their awareness of strengths and areas to improve, and aims to support effective behaviour. Doctors of all levels may be approached by peers or juniors to give feedback, or they may ask others to give feedback on their own performance. Giving and receiving effective feedback are skills that are central in healthcare settings http://ow.ly/zZ1C30eVrH1
Mothers with intellectual impairment and their 9-month-old infants.

BACKGROUND Few studies have utilised population-based data to examine the lives of families headed by parents with intellectual impairment. This study examined the health and social context of mothers with intellectual impairment compared with their peers without intellectual impairment, and the 9-month developmental outcomes of their infants. METHOD Secondary analysis of the first wave of the United Kingdom's Millennium Cohort Study (MCS). Wave 1 data were collected when the child was 9 months of age and recorded in-depth information of maternal health, the social context in which the families live, and developmental outcomes of the infants. RESULTS Of the 18 189 mothers, 74 (0.4%) were classified as mothers with intellectual impairment. The findings show evidence of widespread disadvantage in terms of social context and poorer self-reported physical health for mothers with intellectual impairment compared with their peers without intellectual impairment. Maternal mental health and the developmental outcomes of their 9-month infants were not markedly different between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS The cross-sectional analyses used in this study shows the differences in the lives of mothers with intellectual impairment and their young infants compared with their peers. Longitudinal analyses across subsequent waves of the MCS will allow protective and risk factors in the early years that influence later developmental outcomes to be identified.