Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Market Structure-Profit Relationship in the Jordan's Banking Industry

This study examines the structure-profit relationship in the Jordan’s banking industry. The study sample consists of all the local banks operating in the market over the 2001-2005 period. The study hypotheses are divided into two parts. First the hypotheses related to the market power structure which includes the traditional structure-conduct-performance hypothesis (MP) and the relative market power hypothesis (RMP). Second, the hypotheses related to the efficient structure (ES) which includes X-efficiency hypothesis (ESX) and scale efficiency hypothesis. Tests of the hypotheses are performed by regressing profits against measures of concentration, market share, X-efficiency, and scale efficiency. The empirical results generally support the traditional SCP hypothesis; with limited support to the scale-efficiency version of the efficient structure (ESS) in the Jordanian’s banking industry over the study period. Thus, the main implication of these results for the policymakers, of Jordanian’s banking sector, is to expand the ongoing deregulation efforts with the aim of reducing the industry concentration and enhancing the market competitiveness.
Heart Rate Variability Signal Features for Emotion Recognition by Using Principal Component Analysis and Support Vectors Machine

Emotion influences human health significantly. In this pilot study, a movie clips method has been designed to induce 5 kinds of emotion states. 90-sec corresponding ECG signal have been measured in the end of video stimulus. Heart rate variability (HRV) features were extracted from ECG signal by using time-domain, frequency-domain, Poincare, and statistic analysis. Then these HRV features were used to classify different emotion states by support vectors machine (SVM). Also, we used principal component analysis (PCA) to reduce the number of extracted features. Briefly, in the classification for 2 emotion states (positive/negative) and 5 kinds of emotion states, the accuracy of 71.4%, 56.9% are reached, respectively. Compared with other studies of emotion recognition using 2 or more vital signs, the accuracy in this study is lower slightly than other studies (56.9% versus 61.6%). However, using single ECG signal or HRV features is accessible for the daily emotion monitoring. Our results showed the feasibility of daily emotion monitoring by using extracted HRV features and SVM classifier.
Ultraviolet A exposure might increase metastasis of mouse melanoma: a pilot study

Background: The major sources of long‐wave ultraviolet A radiation (UVA; 320–400 nm) exposure are extensive sunbathing and tanning in solaria. While the carcinogenic effects of mid‐wave ultraviolet B radiation (UVB; 280–320 nm) are well recognized, the potentially hazardous effects of UVA are less understood. Several studies have shown that a variety of physiological processes in the cell are modified by UVA exposure, some of which might be involved in the regulation of tumor metastasis. In this study we suggest that UVA radiation could lead to the increase of metastatic capability of melanoma cells in mice.
Corporate Vulnerability Index as a Fear Gauge? Exploring the Contagion Effect between U.S. and Korean Markets

The nature and extent of financial contagion across international borders is an important yet unsettled subject. In this article, Kim, Ryu, and Seo explore transmission of credit risk from the U.S. stock market to Korean markets for stock, equity futures, and volatility. U.S. credit risk is measured using a new index, the CVI computed by the Risk Management Institute at the National University of Singapore, which is designed to capture a firm’s risk of default within the next year. One key question is whether the linkage between markets is a direct one from trading, or an indirect one operating through the transfer of information. The article shows that a shock to the CVI for S&P 500 Index stocks has a highly significant influence on the KOSPI 200, KOSPI 200 futures, and the VKOSPI volatility index. Both a direct impact largely from trading by foreign investors and also an informational impact from the release of the CVI are independently significant.
Extracellular glucose turnover in the striatum of unanaesthetized rats measured by quantitative microdialysis

1 Steady‐state and time‐resolved quantitative microdialysis was used to measure dialysate concentration, extracellular concentration and the in vivo recovery of glucose in rat striatum. 2 The extracellular concentration of glucose, determined by the zero net flux method of Lönnroth, was 350 ± 20 μm and the in vivo recovery was 39 ± 2%. 3 Veratridine caused a steep decrease in dialysate glucose after an initial delay of 7.5 min. When steady‐state glucose levels had been reached in the presence of veratridine the extracellular concentration was reduced to zero, but there was no significant change in in vivo recovery. 4 Measurement of the dynamic changes during the administration of veratridine showed an immediate decrease in extracellular glucose concentration and a steep rise in in vivo recovery, which accounted for the delay in the decrease in dialysate glucose. When extracellular concentration reached zero, in vivo recovery returned to control levels.
An eigen‐select denoising threshold for channel estimation in OFDM systems

In reliable orthogonal frequency division multiplexing systems, channel estimator (CE) plays a crucial role. A pilot‐aided orthogonal frequency division multiplexing CE often employs denoising thresholds to identify significant and noisy channel impulse response taps. When the knowledge of channel statistics (KCS) is completely unavailable, the existing suboptimal thresholds require consistent estimation of one or more KCS parameters. In this paper, the effect of noise variance parameter estimation on CE's mean square error (MSE) performance is characterized analytically by computing threshold's tap‐detection probability. To mitigate MSE degradation due to KCS estimation, an eigen‐select threshold, which does not require any KCS estimation, is proposed. It utilizes eigen values of the auto‐covariance matrix formed by estimated channel impulse response. The proposed threshold is compared with existing state‐of‐art alternatives, for CE's MSE performance and system's BER performance, in correlated Rayleigh fading channel environments. Results reveal that, with the proposed threshold, performance plots converge to optimal solution more closely than the others. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The novel high efficiency grid-tied multi string PV PCS using H-bridge multi-level topology

In this paper, a novel topology is proposed that can significantly increase the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) system. The multi-level topology consists of several H-bridge cells connected in series, each one connected to a string of PV modules. The proposed topology offers advantages such as the operation at lower switching frequency or lower current ripple compared to conventional two level topologies. The control algorithm permits the independent control of each dc link voltage, enabling, in this way, the tracking of the maximum power point for each string of PV modules. The proposed topology is implemented for 240kW power conditioning system. The experimental results show that the proposed topology has good performance.
Van der Post et al. didn’t get patients in perspective

In ‘Patient perspectives and the risk of compulsory admission’, van der Post and colleagues (2013) report on the links between opinions about prior psychiatric treatment and risk of civil detentions in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The authors conclude that a history of previous involuntary admission is associated with low treatment satisfaction and that more satisfaction seems to reduce the risk of civil detention. This is another way of saying that the threeto fourfold increase in the risk of repeated compulsory admission is mediated by patients’ perspectives. Unfortunately, these conclusions are not supported by the data from the Amsterdam Study of Acute Psychiatry. First of all, evidence for an association of a history of involuntary hospitalization and treatment satisfaction is weak at best. Logistic regression analysis was performed including age and previous involuntary admission as predictors. But the modelling strategy did not follow textbook guidelines as developed by Hosmer and Lemeshow (2000), among others. Moreover, the validity of the estimated association between previous admission and treatment satisfaction (odds ratio (OR) = 2.2) is conditional on the model being correct. However, model fit was poor. The authors reported the percentage of correctly predicted cases: 66%, which is not much of an improvement on a base rate of 58% dissatisfied patients. Poor model fit is also reflected in a low Nagelkerke’s pseudo r2 (0.09). Second, the association of treatment satisfaction and compulsory admission during follow-up is in fact nonexistent in the final logistic regression model. Cox regression analyses would have been more appropriate in order to take into account that the outcome is censored at the end of the two-year follow-up period (Kleinbaum & Klein, 2005). But leaving that aside, the analysis is flawed because bivariate association and multiple regression analysis are mixed up. The authors claim that more satisfaction with prior treatment reduced the risk of civil detention (OR = 0.3). However, this is a crude OR concerning only a very satisfied subgroup next to patients with medium scores (OR = 1.4) and contrasted with a very dissatisfied group of patients (OR = 1). In the final model, including previous involuntary admission, treatment satisfaction was non-significant. An impressive 82% of correctly predicted cases was reported together with r2 = 0.25 (Nagelkerke). But this only means that the model is not very helpful because an unadjusted 82% of patients was not admitted involuntarily during follow-up. By picking favourable odds ratios, van der Post and colleagues constructed an interpretation of the data to ‘open up a new perspective for diminishing the risk of (new) civil detention by trying to enhance satisfaction with treatment’. It may be sound advice to ask patients under detention about their previous experiences with mental health care. But this advice is not grounded on thorough statistical analysis. The conclusion is experience based, not evidence based. Doctor knows best?
Short-Term External Debt and Foreign Exchange Rate Volatility in Emerging Economies: Evidence from the Korea Market

Abstract: We empirically analyze the main determinants of foreign exchange rate (FX) volatility in emerging market economies using the data of Korea corporations and financial institutions. We find that short-term external debt is more important than trading volume of foreign investors in explaining FX volatility. Our results suggest that short-term debt-controlling measures, such as a tax levy on short-term borrowing, can be more effective in moderating FX volatility than can the measures affecting the trading volume, such as a Tobin tax.
Three Contrast Injection Protocols for Electrocardiogram-Gated 64-Slice Computed Tomographic Angiography: Comparing Vessel Density and Perceived Quality

Objective: To compare aortic, pulmonary artery (PA), and coronary artery (CA) density and examination quality using 3 different injection protocols for electrocardiogram-gated 64-detector row computed tomographic angiography. Methods: We reviewed 30 consecutive computed tomographic angiography studies for each of 3 different contrast protocols (A, B, and C)-90 studies total-performed in patients with chest pain and low to moderate suspicion for coronary disease. All used a 20-mL timing bolus followed by 30 mL of saline. Protocol A (PrA) was composed of 50-mL contrast at 5 mL/s, 40-mL contrast/10-mL saline at 4 mL/s, and 40-mL saline at 4 mL/s. Protocol B (PrB) was composed of 50-mL contrast at 5 mL/s, 30- to 50-mL contrast at 3.5 mL/s (timing bolus-dependent), and 50-mL saline at 3.5 mL/s. Protocol C (PrC) was composed of 60-mL contrast at 5.5 mL/s, 50-mL contrast at 4.5 mL/s, and 50-mL saline at 3.5 mL/s. Density measurements were made at 20 points. Studies were graded for quality on a 4-point scale. Results: Main PA density for PrA (263 Hounsfield units [HU]) was significantly lower than for PrB (335 HU) and PrC (366 HU). For PrA, PrB, and PrC, there were 10, 1, and 1 nondiagnostic PA studies, respectively; the numbers of good or very good quality studies were 10, 21, and 25. Left main CA densities for PrA (393 HU), PrB (353 HU), and PrC (356 HU) were not significantly different; likewise for aortic root densities (400, 375, and 372 HU). For the aortic root, the numbers of good or very good studies were 30, 27, and 28. Grade (G) is linearly related to average density per grade (D): G = 0.011 × D − 1.46, r2 = 0.96. Conclusions: Protocols B and C yielded consistently high attenuation of the aorta, PAs, and CAs with commensurate examination quality.
The Impact of Energy Consumption and Productivity Growth on Carbon Emissions in Ghana

The environment plays two vital roles for mankind. It provides food and raw materials for production and consumption and also accepts the wastes generated through man’s activities and renders them harmless. This calls for sustainable environmental management. This study examines the impact of productivity growth, forest depletion, renewable energy consumption and non-renewable energy consumption on carbon emissions in Ghana. The findings suggest that productivity growth is the most important factor that reduces carbon emissions in the short-run. In the long run however, renewable energy consumption has most influence on carbon emissions. Forest depletion leads to carbon emissions in both the short and long –run. The study recommends that in order to curb carbon emissions, afforestation programmes and investment in renewable energy should be encouraged.
Related Genes and Potential Biomarkers for Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease

Aim: The aim of this study is to extend our understanding of the molecular mechanism of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods: We downloaded the gene expression profile GSE18309 from Gene Expression Omnibus database, which includes 3 genechips from patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 3 genechips from patients with AD, and 3 genechips from normal controls (NC). Linear Models for Microarray Data package was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in MCI versus NC group and AD versus NC group. Then, we extracted the overlapping DEGs of 2 groups for functional and pathway enrichment analysis using FuncAssociate software accompanied by gene ontology and expressing analysis systematic explorer, respectively. Further, AutoDock4 (http://autodock.scripps.edu/) was used to predict the docking site between small molecule ligands and proteins of a key DEG. Results: A total of 60 DEGs were identified. Biological processes associated with nutrient response and muscle development were significantly dysregulated in AD and MCI. In addition, we identified 2 active binding sites (A5 and L30) on protein structure of cholecystokinin A receptor (CCKAR) for drug design. Conclusion: The DEGs including CCKAR might be used as biomarkers for early diagnosis of AD. However, further experimental studies are needed to confirm our results.
An Assessment of the British Housing Benefit System

The British Housing Benefit system has become one of the central pillars of housing policy as well as a major element in the social security system. Housing Benefit has enabled government to switch housing subsidies away from ‘bricks and mortar’ subsidies and it has become the main housing subsidy. It has also underpinned other policies that have transformed the housing system, including the homelessness legislation, the liberalisation of the private rented sector, private finance for housing associations and the transfer of local authority housing to housing associations. Over time its objectives have narrowed with much more emphasis being placed on its income maintenance objective and rather less on a wider affordability objective. Nevertheless, it performs both objectives reasonably well in the social rented sector, but is increasingly failing in the private rented sector where restrictions aimed at controlling costs have become much more onerous. It is often suggested that design of Housing Benefit seems likely to lead to work disincentives and over-consumption of housing, but the evidence is weak. While the system is difficult to administer, it is cheap to administer (compared to many other benefits). Current policy development is aimed at extending choice by creating incentives for claimants to consume housing more efficiently, as well as removing some of the administrative deterrents to moving into work. Longer term it seems likely that the system will need to adapt to the growth of tax credits with which it is not well aligned.
Fair Value Gains and Losses in Derivatives and CEO Compensation

This study examines the sensitivity of CEO compensation to fair value gains and losses in derivatives for firms in the U.S. oil and gas industry. Our evidence indicates that firms use derivatives for both hedging and non-hedging purposes and that the derivative gains have a substantial impact on firms’ overall earnings. We find that CEOs are rewarded for hedge derivative gains, more so in firms facing high financial contracting costs. However, we find that non-hedge derivative gains are also rewarded. Furthermore, the CEO compensation is more sensitive to non-hedge derivative gains than it is to non-hedge derivative losses. This is surprising because non-hedge derivatives often relate to speculation or inefficient hedging. Overall, our results suggest that the board does not fully distinguish between the nature of derivative activities and rewards all gains in a similar fashion. The presence of accounting financial expert on the compensation committee, however, does improve efficient contracting.
Crystalline cytochrome c oxidase of bovine heart mitochondrial membrane: composition and x-ray diffraction studies.

The integral mitochondrial membrane protein cytochrome c oxidase (ferrocytochrome-c:oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.9.3.1) was crystallized from solutions of the protein from bovine heart isolated as described earlier [Yoshikawa, S. & Caughey, W. S. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 412-420]. Crystallinity was demonstrated by x-ray diffraction. Microcrystals (tetragonal prisms, 0.02 mm in the largest dimension) were obtained in high yield with retention of activity and contained Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mg in approximate atom ratios of 1.0:1.25:0.5:0.5, respectively. Analysis of the amino acid residues and the tightly bound detergent support an apparent molecular mass of about 200 kDa, of which 150 kDa is protein (1316 +/- 66 amino acids) and 50 kDa is detergent (Brij 35). Seven major polypeptides are evident by sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Adjustments in buffer concentration and other conditions have yielded much larger green crystals, hexagonal bipyramids; a crystal 0.3 X 0.5 X 0.7 mm gave x-ray diffractions as high as 8-A resolution and a space group of P6(2) or P6(4), and cell dimensions of a = b = 174.5 A, c = 282.2 A, alpha = beta = 90 degrees, and gamma = 120 degrees were obtained. A reasonable value of 3.1 A3/Da for Vm, the average space per dalton of protein in the crystal, was obtained for the asymmetric unit, which contains four irons and is a dimer of two minimal catalytic units. Cylindrical dimers (80 X 100 A) estimated from two-dimensional electron diffraction studies [Fuller, S. D. , Capaldi, R. A. & Henderson, R. (1979) J. Mol. Biol. 134, 305-327] pack well in the crystal lattice with the symmetry of the space group of the crystal. The crystallization procedure developed is useful in purification of the enzyme and shows promise for the production of crystals of sufficiently high order to gain improved structural information from x-ray diffraction.
Simulation of InGaAs/InGaP multiple quantum well systems for multijunction solar cell

Multijunction solar cells hold the actual world record efficiency, converting 46% of the solar energy into electricity on ground, and are the very basis of spatial missions' power supply. Multiple quantum well systems are one of the possible solutions to overcome a major technological challenge of this type of device, namely, finding materials with appropriate bandgap and lattice parameter that can lead to current matching between the stacked pn junctions. In this work, as an alternative to face this issue, we present a theoretical study on the strain-compensated InxGa1−xAs/InyGa1−yP multiple quantum well system to be applied as the active region in such multiple junctions. In principle, this system is expected to present more radiation hardness than the state-of-art quantum well multijunction solar cells based on InGaAs / GaAsP. Several combinations of thicknesses and compositions of wells and barriers were probed, leading to a broad range of the effective bandgap energy, from 0.7 to 1.3 eV. Some of the simulated quantum well system configurations match the optimal energies for devices containing 1 to 5 junctions for both terrestrial and spatial applications.
Problems of Economic Instruction

I. An explanation of the Amherst program in economics in formal economic terms is impossible, forA. It is inseparably associated with the institutions and influences of its intellectual environment, sincei. The program in economics is an aspect of the "new curriculum. " 2. The "new curriculum" is an expression of a general educational theory, and3. The educational theory is but a single manifestation of a philosophy of life.
Diethyl 2,6-dimethyl-4-p-tolyl-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate

In the title compound, C20H25NO4, the 1,4-dihydropyridine ring adopts a flattened-boat conformation and forms a dihedral angle of 89.77 (8)° with the benzene ring. Intermolecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds result in the formation of extended chains parallel to the b axis.
Reliability, Reputation, and Alliance Formation

In this paper we examine how the past alliance behavior of nations affects the likelihood that these states will be involved in alliance formation. We contend that nations evaluate the reputations of potential allies when searching for alliance partners. Reputation information is processed by governments along with other immediate concerns. By introducing a model and developing subsequent measures of reputational alliance histories we improve upon our current understanding of the factors that drive alliance formation.
Accessing Resources from Innovation Partners: The Search Breadth of Family SMEs

This study investigates differences in the diversity of cooperation partners used for innovation‐related activities (i.e., search breadth) between family and nonfamily small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as within the group of family SMEs. The results generally confirm our hypotheses derived from the behavioral theory of the firm. Specifically, we show that family SMEs have a lower search breadth than their nonfamily counterparts. Our findings further illustrate how attributes of the CEO (level of education) and the top management team (nonfamily management involvement and educational background diversity) relate to the search breadth of family SMEs.