Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Further evidence on the existence of housing market bubbles

Studies of United States, Swedish, and Australian cities have obtained mixed results regarding the existence of housing market bubbles. The US estimates imply large bubbles on its two coasts, but not inland, and the Australian and Swedish estimates imply insignificant and modest bubbles, respectively. The results of the present work for three New Zealand cities are most similar to those for Swedish cities. Like evidence from the other countries, real income (employment and the real wage rate), real construction costs, and the real after-tax interest rate all matter. While the estimation methodology is similar to an error correction model, it is believed to be a superior method when the data time series is short. In any event, tests for house price bubbles would seem to be necessary in house price research.
Comparison of psychophysical properties of two intraoral digital sensors on low-contrast perceptibility.

OBJECTIVES The psychophysical properties of a new complementary metal oxide semi-conductor-based detector, ProSensor(®) (Planmeca Oy, Helsinki, Finland), in terms of dose response function and perceptibility curve test were performed and compared with those of a charged couple device-based sensor, Dixi(®) (Planmeca Oy). METHODS Dose response functions at 66 kVp for a Dixi and a ProSensor were determined by means of multiple exposures to a homogeneous X-ray field covering the whole exposure range. The entry dose of each exposure was measured and registered. The mean grey level in each image was plotted as function of the corresponding exposures for both digital systems. Radiographs of a test object containing ten holes of increasing depth were obtained throughout the exposure range of the two digital sensors at 66 kVp. 12 observers were asked to register the number of perceptible holes in each radiograph. Based on the mean value of the observers' evaluation, the perceptibility curves were constructed, and the integral value under the perceptibility curves were compared between two intraoral sensors. RESULTS The results based on dose response function showed that the ProSensor was more sensitive than the Dixi sensor. Paired t-test showed that the minimal perceptible low-contrast details were significantly higher for the ProSensor than for the Dixi sensor (p < 0.001). The integrals below the two perceptibility curves were 33.4 and 69.2 for the Dixi and ProSensor, respectively. CONCLUSION Applying the new ProSensor may be beneficial to patients owing to its reduced radiation dose and increased perception for low-contrast details in dentistry.
The relationship between dividend- and non-dividend-paying stock prices when considering financial distress

Previous studies on whether dividend policies affect stock prices have offered contradictory results. This study investigates whether dividend-paying stock prices outperform non-dividend-paying stocks and whether there is a strong relationship between dividends and stock prices. It also examines the financial health of dividend-paying firms vs. non-dividend-paying firms. The empirical results show that there is a strong relationship between share prices and dividends. The Altman financial stress test shows that the average Z-scores of non-dividend-paying stocks are higher and are more volatile than dividend-paying companies. The Z-score test strongly rejects the hypothesis that dividend- and non-dividend-paying firms are equally exposed to financial risks. Contrary to some beliefs, the results of this study show that dividends are an important factor in determining stock prices and dividend-paying stock prices are less volatile than non-dividend-paying stocks.
Efficacy of a barrier teat dip containing .55% chlorhexidine for prevention of bovine mastitis.

A natural exposure trial was conducted for 12 mo in a commercial herd of 125 lactating cows to compare the efficacy of an experimental barrier teat dip containing . 55% chlorhexidine gluconate with the efficacy of a 1% iodophor for preventing new IMI and clinical mastitis. Teats of half of the cows were dipped in the experimental barrier product, and teats of the remaining half of the herd were dipped in the 1% iodophor product. Quarters dipped with the experimental barrier product had fewer new IMI caused by Escherichia coli, coagulase-negative staphylococci, or Gram-positive bacilli than did quarters dipped in the 1% iodophor. Incidence of new IMI caused by Serratia spp. and Pseudomonas spp. was greater for quarters dipped in the experimental barrier product than for quarters dipped in the 1% iodophor. Efficacy of the two teat dips against new IMI caused by Staphylococcus aureus, environmental streptococci, and Klebsiella spp. did not differ. Incidence of bacteriologically negative clinical cases of mastitis was greater in quarters dipped in the 1% iodophor than in quarters dipped in the experimental barrier product. Incidence of clinical mastitis cases caused by Staph. aureus, environmental streptococci, E. coli, Klebsiella spp. , Serratia spp. , and Pseudomonas spp. did not differ between treatment groups.
Patterns of Crisis Management

This study focuses on the management of international crises from 1945 to 1979, with an emphasis on cases in the Arab-Israel conflict. A Protracted Conflict-Crisis Model is presented and tested. The findings indicate that Arab-Israel crises are distinctive, but not because of the their geographic location. Instead, as predicted by the model, patterns of crisis management appear to depend on whether or not a crisis occurs within a protracted conflict. This discovery suggests that the profile of an international crisis, notably the extent of violent behavior and superpower activity, can be anticipated more reliably in terms of the concept of protracted conflict.
Sensor Placement Optimization Method for People Tracking

In this paper, we deal with a sensor placement optimization problem for multi-point pedestrian flow monitoring systems, and provide an efficient algorithm. Our goal is to build a realistic and accurate model of the monitoring systems' pedestrian flow estimation performance in terms of their estimation errors. Also our model can represent sensor placement considering the number, types, locations and capabilities of sensors in urban scenarios. To this goal, we formulate the sub-problem of estimating accuracy achieved by a given monitoring system under a given placement of sensors. Using a solver for this sub-problem as a sub-module, we also design an algorithm to determine the optimal sensor placement. This algorithm employs a simulated annealing (SA) based approach and iteratively improve solutions to converge to near optimal solutions. Through performance evaluation using our HumanS simulator [1], which simulates human detection sensors, pedestrian behavior and floor structures altogether, we have verified that a derived sensor placement by our proposed method could detect pedestrian flows with high accuracy for an underground city and its estimation error was about 1 percent.
Extending consumer categorization based on innovativeness: Intentions and technology clusters in consumer electronics

Consumer categorizations based on innovativeness were originally proposed by E.M. Rogers (2003) and remain of relevance for predicting purchasing behavior in high-tech domains such as consumer electronics. We extend such innovativeness-based categorizations in two directions: We first take into account the existence of technology clusters within product domains and then enrich the definition of consumer innovativeness by considering not only past adoption behavior but also future purchase intentions. We derive a novel consumer categorization based on data from a sample of 2,094 Dutch consumers for the case of consumer electronics. In so doing, we apply endogenous categorization techniques that represent a methodological improvement with respect to previously applied techniques. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Edge gain suppression of a planar-type InGaAs-InP avalanche photodiodes with thin multiplication Layers for 10-gb/s applications

Edge-breakdown free InP-InGaAs avalanche photodiodes (APDs) for 10-Gb/s operation were fabricated. Two-dimensional current profiles were measured to investigate the edge breakdown on double-stepped planar APDs. The edge breakdown prominent at high gain increased with the absorption layer thickness for a fixed multiplication thickness (0.25 /spl mu/m). The edge breakdown was suppressed for 0.4-/spl mu/m absorption layer at the gain of ten. A simple physical model was proposed to predict the results successfully. To suppress the edge breakdown, the multiplication layer thickness should be selected so that the breakdown voltage is minimum at the selected thickness.
Exchange of goods or exchange of blows? New directions in conflict and exchange

Although defense and peace economics has expanded its interest toward post‐Cold War violence, our theme is that conflict potential weaves itself into the decisions of consumers, producers, and traders in ways that economists have essentially ignored. This is the lesson of our model which combines Ricardian trade with the potential for appropriation under ratio and logistic conflict technology. The model shows that economic activities like production and exchange are fundamentally altered in the presence of conflict potential. The model also implies that arms rivalry and the technology of conflict exist in non‐international forms within the production/exchange economy.
Attachment Representations and Anxiety: Differential Relationships Among Mothers of Sexually Abused and Comparison Girls

The present study sought to document an example of how childhood sexual abuse and attachment representation interact while contributing to the trait anxiety of nonoffending mothers following the disclosure of their daughters’ sexual abuse. The study sample consisted of 57 ethnically diverse mothers of sexually abused girls aged 6 to 16 and 47 mothers of comparison girls who were matched with the abused girls on age, socioeconomic status, and family constellation. Results indicate that the mothers’ representations of past attachment relationships with their own fathers were differentially related to their current attachment styles, depending on their daughters’ childhood sexual abuse status. The representation of past attachment relationships with peers had both main and protective effects on the mothers’ trait anxiety symptoms. The relevance of attachment perspectives to adjustment among these mothers and intergenerational process in childhood sexual abuse are discussed, and implications for future research and clinical practices are identified.
Systematic risk and accounting determinants: a new perspective from an emerging market

This study is to test the influences of basic accounting determinants on Indonesian manufacturing industry's systematic risk in the most-recent period, 2005–2007, in order to capture the latest market's perspectives and preferences. By using current ratio, debt to total asset ratio, Long-term Debt to Total Asset (LDTA) ratio, firm size, and growth as the proxies for accounting determinants and beta as the proxy for systematic risk, we investigated 15 top and most-traded Indonesian manufacturing firms' stocks. The results revealed a striking and surprising phenomenon, which no accounting determinants influence at all the systematic risk. It demonstrated the market behaviour that paid less attention to the financial statement information, and seemed to focus more on technical analysis in making an investment decision. It implicitly highlighted on how to manage a market that seemingly is sensitive to non-fundamental factors, i.e., market sentiment and macroeconomic rumours, the main drivers of technical analysis.
Passive crowdsourcing in government using social media

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to develop a novel approach to e-participation, which is based on “passive crowdsourcing” by government agencies, exploiting the extensive political content continuously created in numerous Web 2.0 social media (e.g. political blogs and microblogs, news sharing sites and online forums) by citizens without government stimulation, to understand better their needs, issues, opinions, proposals and arguments concerning a particular domain of government activity or public policy. Design/methodology/approach – This approach is developed and elaborated through cooperation with potential users experienced in the design of public policies from three countries (Austria, Greece and the UK), using a combination of quantitative and qualitative techniques: co-operative development of application scenarios, questionnaire surveys, focus groups and workshops and, finally, in-depth interviews. Findings – A process model for the application of the proposed passive crowdsourcing approach.
A Novel Hybrid Evolutionary Algorithm for Learning Bayesian Networks from Incomplete Data

Existing Structural Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithms for learning Bayesian networks from incomplete data usually adopt the greedy hill climbing search method, which may make the algorithms find sub-optimal solutions. In this paper, we present a new Structural EM algorithm which employs a hybrid evolutionary algorithm as the search method. The experimental results on the data sets generated from several benchmark networks illustrate that our algorithm outperforms some state-of-the-art learning algorithms.
The bacteria foraging algorithm for global optimization based on pheromone

In view of the defect that the migration operator randomness is too strong to reduce the bacteria overall fitness, but not conducive to the overall optimization when bacteria foraging algorithm is in the optimization process. Then the pheromone of ant colony algorithm is introduced into the bacteria foraging algorithm. Through the migration of maximum pheromone and smaller pheromone, this paper improves the convergence precision, the global convergence ability of the original algorithm and establishes the hybrid bacteria foraging optimization algorithm. Meanwhile, the Cauchy variation is introduced in reproduction operation in order to enhance the global searching ability of algorithm. Then the paper adopts high dimensional complex standard functions to test these three kinds of bionic algorithms. The results indicate that the new algorithm significantly improves the search speed, partly avoids the local convergence problem and is more suitable for solving optimization problems of complex high dimensional engineering.
Development of Middle-Power W-Band Gyrotron in IAP RAS

In the last few years, gyrotron and other gyrodevises complexes based on “warm” magnets that do not require cooling to liquid-helium temperatures have been successfully created and investigated at many institutions [1]–[4]. A further step to improve the operation of such complexes is the development and design of gyrotrons operating on gyrofrequency harmonics. However, for such systems, the problem of selection of the working type of oscillations is exacerbated, especially when using oversized resonators whose ohmic losses are much lower than in the case of modes with relatively small indices. At present, a number of methods are proposed that provide high selection, both with the help of electron-optical systems and with the use of noncanonical electrodynamic systems. In this work, investigation the possibilities of using non-traditional electrodynamic systems with annular diaphragm to increase the selectivity of the working type of oscillations was done. Based on the results of the work, it is planned to develop the electrodynamic system for a W-band gyrotron operating on the third harmonic (in this case solenoid with water or oil cooling, which costs much less than a cryomagnet can be used).
Design and implementation of self‐directed process teams

Human resources are the most important asset of any organization. Yet most organizations continue to arrange their people in work patterns that inhibit and limit their employees’ participation. Many companies have tried to move away from a traditional rigid organizational structure to a more flexible one only to abandon it with little or no positive results. The difference between success and failure depends not on company size or resources, but on appropriate planning and avoidance of pitfalls. Presents Chevron’s experiences in establishing inter‐functional work teams, evaluates barriers, and suggests steps for successful implementation of self‐directed process teams.
Joint Relay Beamforming Design for Multilevel Nondistributed and Distributed Amplify-and-Forward Relay Networks

This paper considers both nondistributed and distributed multilevel amplify-and-forward (AF) wireless relay networks. For a fair comparison, the nondistributed multilevel AF relay network consists of a one-source–one-destination pair and a relay at each level with multiple antennas, whereas the distributed network consists of a one-source–one-destination pair and multiple distributed relays at each level with a single antenna at each relay. In this paper, relay beamforming matrices are determined for both networks based on the minimum mean square error (MMSE) criterion. During data transmission, power is independently and individually constrained at the relays at each level. Finally, an iterative algorithm is proposed to solve the desired optimization problem.
Gene expression in the tuberculous granuloma: analysis by laser capture microdissection and real‐time PCR

We have assessed the kinetics of host gene expression in granulomas of mice infected with virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis, using an approach that incorporates the laser capture microdissection (LCM) and real‐time PCR technology in conjunction with a newly derived mathematical equation. The results have provided evidence indicating that conventional use of whole infected lungs to study granuloma‐specific gene expression can yield data that may not genuinely reflect intralesional events. Significantly, the expression of nine host genes known to regulate the inflammatory response to M. tuberculosis, as determined by real‐time PCR analysis of microdissected granuloma‐derived cDNAs, was downregulated (up to 27‐fold) at around the time when the rapid growth phase of the bacilli in the lungs of infected mice ends. This downregulation was masked when whole infected lungs were used for the studies. The data suggest that the host immune system can adjust and respond to, or can be modulated by specific physiological states of the tubercle bacillus in vivo. The LCM/real‐time PCR‐based system described in this study can be applied to safely and accurately evaluate gene expression in any lesions that can be microscopically visualized, including those contained in biohazardous tissues.
Workfare as "Collateral": The case of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) in India

This paper argues that a major beneficial impact of workfare programmes is through their role in allowing participants to improve their access to “credit”. Sustained programme participation over many years serves as “collateral” for households’ acquisition of informal credit, leading to the improvement in economic security and poverty reduction. A conceptual framework using an infinitely repeated trilateral stage game among lenders, workfare participants, and local politicians is developed. This is used to underscore how participation in NREGS matters for securing informal credit from the local shop owners or moneylenders to tackle temporal adverse income spells and smooth out consumption shocks. Using a household panel dataset based on our primary surveys in West Bengal in 2009, 2010 and 2012, we produce robust evidence that continuous program participation significantly facilitates informal credit acquisition, increases income and consumption, and reduces consumption variability.
Design Considerations for Reactive Elements and Control Parameters for Three Phase Boost Rectifiers

The three phase boost rectifier is gradually emerging to be the choice of approach for improving power quality for high power motor drive applications. Although the topology of the converter, its application and control techniques have been known for decades, a systematic design oriented model has not been established in the literature. This paper presents the development of a design-oriented model that addresses clearly the choice of reactive elements and control parameters in a coupled fashion. The model is verified using computer simulations and experimental verifications
Author ' s personal copy Comparison of fresh beef and camel meat proteolysis during cold storage

The objective of this research was to determine the difference in myofibrillar fragmentation of camel meat and beef during postmortem aging. Semitendinosus muscle was excised at slaughter and muscle pH was measured at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h postmortem. Myofibril fragmentation index was measured on 1, 3, 5, and 7 days postmortem. Also, myofibrils isolated from semitendinosus muscles of camel and cattle at 1, 3, 5 and 7 days postmortem storage were analyzed using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Results showed that the camel semitendinosus muscle had significantly higher myofibril degradation values compared to that in beef which was supported by a difference in troponin-T degradation and appearance of a 30 kDa band. Postmortem pH decline of camel meat was significantly slower than that of beef. This study demonstrated that the semitendinosus protease activity of camel meat was superior to that of beef, which may have been due to the difference in pH
The Impact of SFAS No. 123(R) on Financial Statement Conservatism

SFAS No. 123(R) requires firms to recognize the fair value of stock options as compensation expense over the vesting period of the options. Thus, SFAS No. 123(R) leads to an overall increase in financial statement conservatism. However, it is not known whether SFAS No. 123(R) increases conditional and/or unconditional conservatism. Because the different forms of conservatism have different implications for the quality of earnings, I investigate which types of conservatism are impacted by SFAS No. 123(R) to gain insight into the ramifications of the Standard. I find that SFAS No. 123(R) leads to an increase in both unconditional and conditional conservatism. I additionally find that the Standard causes an increased negative relation between contemporaneous economic gains and income. These findings hold outside of the sample period and under a non-priced based model of conservatism.
Improved registration method for infrared and visible remote sensing image using NSCT and SIFT

This paper introduces an improved image registration method for infrared and visible remote sensing image based on NSCT and SIFT algorithm. As the infrared and visible spectral characteristics of remote sensing images are inconsistent, the gray difference between these two images are quite distinct, so there are less matching points by using SIFT algorithm directly. The method of NSCT can decompose the image to a series of frequency channels and high frequency channels contain the edge details of the original image. It could get more matching points and improve the matching rate and the accuracy of registration by using SIFT registration method between two high frequency channels of decomposed images.