Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of taxes financing decisions and firm value in Nigeria

The study sets out to measure how the taxation of dividend and debt affects firm value. Tax hypothesis predicts that firm value is negatively related to dividends and positively related to debt. The study covered 1197 firm-year observations of manufacturing firms in Nigeria from 1984 to 2000. To achieve the objective, the study estimated the model on the average values for each firm and tested for industry effects using the ordinary least square (OLS) method. We found the opposite of tax hypotheses predictions from the regression results. We hypothesized that the relationship between dividends, debt and firm value will be affected by the size of the firm. We therefore partitioned the firms into two on the basis of size measured as market capitalization. We estimated separate equations for each sub-sample and found positive relationship between dividend and firm value and negative relationship between debt and firm value in both small-sized firms and big firms? sub-sample. The study concludes that dividend and debt convey information about profitability of firms. This information about firms? profitability obscures any tax effect of financing decisions. However, we found that earnings and investment are key determinants of firm value in Nigeria.
Generation of Nodding, Head tilting and Gazing for Human-Robot speech Interaction

Head motion occurs naturally and in synchrony with speech during human dialogue communication, and may carry paralinguistic information, such as intentions, attitudes and emotions. Therefore, natural-looking head motion by a robot is important for smooth human–robot interaction. Based on rules inferred from analyses of the relationship between head motion and dialogue acts, this paper proposes a model for generating head tilting and nodding, and evaluates the model using three types of humanoid robot (a very human-like android, "Geminoid F", a typical humanoid robot with less facial degrees of freedom, "Robovie R2", and a robot with a 3-axis rotatable neck and movable lips, "Telenoid R2"). Analysis of subjective scores shows that the proposed model including head tilting and nodding can generate head motion with increased naturalness compared to nodding only or directly mapping people's original motions without gaze information. We also find that an upward motion of a robot's face can be used by robots which do not have a mouth in order to provide the appearance that utterance is taking place. Finally, we conduct an experiment in which participants act as visitors to an information desk attended by robots. As a consequence, we verify that our generation model performs equally to directly mapping people's original motions with gaze information in terms of perceived naturalness.
Chromosomal landscape of UV damage formation and repair at single-nucleotide resolution

Significance UV-induced DNA lesions are an important contributor to melanomas and other skin cancers. To understand how UV damage leads to cancer-associated mutations, it is important to know how the chromosomal landscape influences initial UV damage formation and repair. We have developed a UV damage mapping procedure to precisely map UV damage throughout the genome. We used this method to map the genome-wide distribution of UV lesions in yeast, a model eukaryote. We found that UV damage is not uniformly distributed, but that damage formation is significantly modulated in a predictable way by nucleosomes and DNA-bound transcription factors. Additionally, genome-wide analysis of removal of UV lesions indicates that repair is significantly inhibited near the center of strongly positioned nucleosomes. UV-induced DNA lesions are important contributors to mutagenesis and cancer, but it is not fully understood how the chromosomal landscape influences UV lesion formation and repair. Genome-wide profiling of repair activity in UV irradiated cells has revealed significant variations in repair kinetics across the genome, not only among large chromatin domains, but also at individual transcription factor binding sites. Here we report that there is also a striking but predictable variation in initial UV damage levels across a eukaryotic genome. We used a new high-throughput sequencing method, known as CPD-seq, to precisely map UV-induced cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) at single-nucleotide resolution throughout the yeast genome. This analysis revealed that individual nucleosomes significantly alter CPD formation, protecting nucleosomal DNA with an inward rotational setting, even though such DNA is, on average, more intrinsically prone to form CPD lesions. CPD formation is also inhibited by DNA-bound transcription factors, in effect shielding important DNA elements from UV damage. Analysis of CPD repair revealed that initial differences in CPD damage formation often persist, even at later repair time points. Furthermore, our high-resolution data demonstrate, to our knowledge for the first time, that CPD repair is significantly less efficient at translational positions near the dyad of strongly positioned nucleosomes in the yeast genome. These findings define the global roles of nucleosomes and transcription factors in both UV damage formation and repair, and have important implications for our understanding of UV-induced mutagenesis in human cancers.
Effective Scheduling of Energy Consumption in Smart Grids

This research focuses on demand side management in Smart Grids and the hypothesis of reducing peak demand using Smart Grid capabilities. Alongside with the production of electricity, concerns related with the efficiency of production, distribution and consumption of produced energy appeared. These concerns arise from the willingness of producers to maximize profit and environmental awareness, which is growing everyday in our society. Driven by that motivation, research in renewable energy resources is increasingly augmenting and potentiating the appearance of new challenges in the production of these cleaner energies, that in addition to be greener are also cheaper in a long term. One of the main challenges is powering all demand with these energies. Renewable energy generators have a long setup time and it proves to be difficult since in peak situations, electricity delivery must be instantaneous, making them dependent on faster delivery time petrol generators to manage peak demands. Managing demand peaks require control of consumer devices which can only be possible nowadays using Smart Grid capabilities in order to communicate with consuming devices. This approach also demands a certain flexibility of users to postpone or anticipate appliance executions, having as counterpart cheaper energy prices in certain times of the day. In this research is assumed that electricity prices are known 24 hours in advance, making it possible to schedule home appliances operation. Therefore, using communication abilities of a Smart Grid and electricity prices, this research sets as a main goal to develop an algorithm that can schedule devices in order to help reduce peak demand. This scheduling is constrained by user input, indicating the time frame within which each schedulable device must execute. The resulting scheduling algorithm is based on a meta-heuristic called Evolutionary Algorithms, which uses as a solving technique as a metaphor of human evolution, by trying to mimic crossover between individuals and possible mutations that also happened during human evolution. This method allows to find very good solutions within a reasonable amount of time, making it feasible for a real-world operation. Results are obtained within milliseconds, which for human perception is almost instantaneous. All goals proposed in this master thesis were successfully completed. Results are promising in terms of employing the proposed algorithm in the production phase of its parent project.
Optimizing Logistics Processes in Cash Supply Chains

The logistics of banknotes and coins has gained great attention in the past few years. Cost-efficient and secure cash deliveries to automated teller machines (ATMs), bank branches, and retailers have become necessary as a result of the financial crisis, the decline in cash usage, and the increase of the intensity and violence of raids on ATMs and cash-intransit. This dissertation presents five distinct yet interrelated research studies that provide solutions for managing ATM inventories and cash deliveries in order to improve the cost-efficiency of cash supply chains, user satisfaction, and the security of cash logistics. Extensive field research is conducted to gain an understanding of how users and managers perceive ATM service quality. Quantitative research techniques are used to develop tools and statistical models based on field research findings. Intuitive heuristics and exact algorithms are developed to forecast cash demands, control cash inventories, and manage ATM deliveries in cash supply chains of several maturities. Substantial contributions to the theory and logistics of cash distribution are made by solving new problems in novel ways. In addition, by using real world data, a potential cost saving of 32.0 to 37.7 million euro per annum is identified through benchmarking the performances of newly developed models with the cash operations of the three largest commercial banks in the Netherlands.
Long-Term Statin Use and Risk of Ductal and Lobular Breast Cancer among Women 55 to 74 Years of Age

Background: Mechanistic studies largely support the chemopreventive potential of statins. However, results of epidemiologic studies investigating statin use and breast cancer risk have been inconsistent and lacked the ability to evaluate long-term statin use. Methods: We used data from a population-based case–control study of breast cancer conducted in the Seattle–Puget Sound region to investigate the relationship between long-term statin use and breast cancer risk. Nine hundred sixteen invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and 1,068 invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) cases in patients 55 to 74 years of age diagnosed between 2000 and 2008 were compared with 902 control women. All participants were interviewed in-person and data on hypercholesterolemia and all episodes of lipid-lowering medication use were collected through a structured questionnaire. We assessed the relationship between statin use and IDC and ILC risk using polytomous logistic regression. Results: Current users of statins for 10 years or longer had a 1.83-fold increased risk of IDC [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14–2.93] and a 1.97-fold increased risk of ILC (95% CI: 1.25–3.12) compared with never users of statins. Among women diagnosed with hypercholesterolemia, current users of statins for 10 years or longer had more than double the risk of both IDC (OR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.17–3.57) and ILC (OR: 2.43, 95% CI: 1.40–4.21) compared with never users. Conclusion: In this contemporary population-based case–control study, long-term use of statins was associated with increased risks of both IDC and ILC. Impact: Additional studies with similarly high frequencies of statin use for various durations are needed to confirm this novel finding. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 22(9); 1529–37. ©2013 AACR.
Video transport in wireless ATM

Wireless ATM LANs have the potential to support multi-Mb/s bandwidths to mobile users with guaranteed quality of service. However, the lossy nature of the wireless medium will pose problems for loss-sensitive applications. Techniques to minimize the effect of these losses will therefore be required. In this paper, we examine the use of combined source and channel coding for MPEG video transport in a wireless ATM environment. Although forward error correction (FEC) provides protection against channel bit errors, the bandwidth overhead can become a significant drawback in a fixed bandwidth scenario. Additional protection against losses can be realized by using two-layer video coding. In this work, we compare the performance of a 1-layer main profile and 2-layer data partitioning and SNR scalable MPEG-2 encoders in a system with random channel errors and forward error correction. The results indicate that if the channel bit error rate is known an optimum FEC level can be chosen for the 1-layer case; However, at this fixed FEC level, if a critical bit error rate is exceeded then video quality degrades dramatically. The 2-layer cases appear to lead to more graceful degradation in quality at this critical bit error rates. In particular, SNR scalability may lead to better video quality over a larger range of bit error rates than a 1-layer approach.
Capital Asset Value Impacts of Airports and Highways In the Presence of Higher Order Spatial Autocorrelation

The benefits and costs to private industry of investments in the transportation network, such as impacts on property values, are key to assessing the welfare implications of public transportation expenditures. In this paper we evaluate the capital asset value benefits from enhanced access to highways and airports for U.S. manufacturing firms, using a state-level cost function-based model that incorporates public transportation infrastructure stocks as “free inputs” and allows for higher order spatial autocorrelation. We find that short run costs in some geographic regions are significantly impacted by public highway or airport investment, and that capital asset values as well as input composition are significantly affected overall. Allowing also for associated output growth from infrastructure improvements implies both increased private capital investment and variable input demands.
Analysis of Testability Metrics for Lustre/Scade Programs

Testing is a validation process carried out to find errors in a system. Testability metrics aims at identifying parts of a design/code that are difficult to test. In this article, we focus on two testability metrics defined for systems written in Lustre/Scade. An intuitive interpretation was proposed for these metrics. The aims of the work described here is to check whether this intuitive interpretation can be consolidated with factual evidences.
Efficient Frequency Converters Based on Stimulated Raman Scattering in Hollow Core Photonic Crystal Fibres Filled with Nonlinear Liquids

Recent developments in the field of nonlinear optics with photonic crystal fibers have led to the realization of supercontinuum spectra or parametric sources of correlated photons. However the nonlinearities were still limited by the use of silica. Hollow core photonic crystal fibers (HCPCF) filled with highly nonlinear liquids or gases enable the implementation of more performing nonlinear devices and open the scope of potential applications thanks to the large variety of usable liquids and gases. Moreover liquid and gas filled HCPCF present several original propagation properties such as transmission bands that can be tailored to favor or prevent a given nonlinear mechanism. In this work we will show that the on-purpose limited transmission band enables a high conversion efficiency towards a single Stokes component even at high pump intensities. Moreover such Raman converters generate single spatial mode at specific wavelengths that can be determined to fit desired applications.
Determining negation scope and strength in sentiment analysis

A key element for decision makers to track is their stakeholders' sentiment. Recent developments show a tendency of including various aspects other than word frequencies in automated sentiment analysis approaches. One of these aspects is negation, which can be accounted for in various ways. We compare several approaches to accounting for negation in sentiment analysis, differing in their methods of determining the scope of influence of a negation keyword. On a set of English movie review sentences, the best approach is to consider two words, following a negation keyword, to be negated by that keyword. This method yields a significant increase in overall sentiment classification accuracy and macro-level F1 of 5.5% and 6.2%, respectively, compared to not accounting for negation. Additionally optimizing sentiment modification of negated words to a value of −1.27 rather than −1 yields a significant 7.1% increase in accuracy and a significant 8.0% increase in macro-level F1.
Approximating the basis set dependence of coupled cluster calculations: Evaluation of perturbation theory approximations for stable molecules

The coupled cluster CCSD(T) method provides a theoretically sound, accurate description of the electronic structure of a wide range of molecules. To obtain accurate results, however, very large basis sets must be used. Since the computational cost of CCSD(T) calculations formally increases with the seventh power of the number of basis functions (N7), the CCSD(T) method can only be applied to a restricted range of molecules. In this work we show that the basis set dependence of the CCSD(T) method is well described by perturbation theory. Starting with CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ calculations, use of the MP3 method to simulate the effect of increasing the basis set to aug-cc-pV5Z leads to average absolute errors, relative to the full CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pV5Z calculations, of less than ±0.4 kcal/mol (De), ±0.0002 A (re), ±2 cm−1 (ωe), 0.1 kcal/mol (IPe), and 0.2 kcal/mol (EAe) for the test set of diatomic molecules considered here. Although the corresponding MP2 approximation does not provide this high level of accuracy,.
Acute copper toxicity in juvenile fat snook Centropomus parallelus (Teleostei: Centropomidae) in sea water

Tres experimentos foram realizados para avaliar o acumulo e toxicidade aguda do cobre (Cu) em juvenis de robalo-peva Centropomus parallelus. O primeiro experimento foi realizado para determinar a concentracao letal (96h-CL50) de Cu. O segundo experimento foi realizado para avaliar os efeitos de concentracoes subletais de Cu (0,47 e 0,94 mg/L), enquanto o terceiro permitiu testar a capacidade de recuperacao dos peixes expostos a concentracoes subletais do Cu e posteriormente mantidos em agua do mar sem acrescimo de Cu. O valor de LC50 encontrado para o Cu foi de 1,88 mg/L. Os peixes expostos as concentracoes subletais de Cu mostraram um acumulo significativo nas brânquias em relacao ao controle em 96 h de exposicao (0,43 µg/g Cu). Nenhuma diferenca significativa foi observada entre os peixes expostos a 0,47 mg/L de Cu (1,09 µg/g) e 0,94 mg/L de Cu (1,26 µg/g). A exposicao (24 e 96 h) para as concentracoes subletais de Cu induziram danos no DNA. Os resultados mostram que a exposicao aguda a concentracoes subletais induz o acumulo de Cu e danos ao DNA nas brânquias dos peixes, onde estes efeitos sao recuperados apos 240 h em agua do mar sem adicao de Cu.
Corneal thickness- and age-related biomechanical properties of the cornea measured with the ocular response analyzer.

PURPOSE The Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA) is a new instrument that measures the corneal biomechanical response (corneal hysteresis, CH) to rapid indentation by an air jet. CH is the difference in applanation pressures (P1, P2) between the rising and falling phases of the air jet. The investigation had two parts: a characterization study and a validation study. In the characterization study, the purposes were to investigate the intraocular pressure (IOP)-dependence of CH and to characterize the performance of the ORA. In the validation study, the purposes were to investigate the association between CH and both age and central corneal thickness (CCT) and the agreement between ORA and Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT) IOP measurements. METHODS For the characterization study, data were collected from 105 untreated subjects (45 ocular hypertensive patients and 60 normal subjects; mean age, 60 years, range, 26-82). GAT and ORA measurements were performed before and after IOP lowering of one randomly selected eye with apraclonidine drops. The change in P1 and P2 (arbitrary units) in relation to change in GAT IOP was analyzed to calibrate the instrument. The relation between P1, P2, and CCT was explored and ORA IOP was derived from the analyses. For the validation study, ORA and GAT IOP and CCT were measured in 144 eyes of 144 untreated subjects (mean age, 58 years; range, 19-83). The characterization calculations were applied to the dataset and values of CH and ORA IOP were calculated. The relationship between CH and both subject age and CCT was determined. The associations between CH and CCT and between ORA and GAT IOPs, were investigated by linear regression analysis. The agreement between measuring devices was calculated. RESULTS In the characterization study, P1 changed by 6.41 arbitrary units for every 1-mm Hg change in GAT IOP. CH (P1 - P2) changed by -1.60 arbitrary units for every 1-mm Hg change in GAT IOP. For each unit change in P2, P1 changed by 1.27 units. From this association a new IOP-independent corneal factor was derived [P1 - (P2/1.27)] and is termed the corneal constant factor (CCF; mm Hg). ORA IOP normalized for CCF was defined as P2 - CCF (mm Hg). The CCF (mm Hg) was associated with CCT (micrometers) and with age: CCF = [(0.036 . CCT) - (0.028 . age)] + 1.06 (adjusted r2 = 0.34; P < 0.0001 for CCT, P = 0.007 for age). Normalized ORA IOP measurements were not associated with CCT. GAT IOP was associated with CCT and CCF-more strongly with the latter: GAT IOP = (0.03 . CCT)+1.52 (r2 = 0.06, P = 0.002); GAT IOP = (0.65 . CCF) + 4.5 (r2 = 0.13, P < 0.0001). The mean difference (95% limits of agreement) between GAT and normalized ORA IOP was 0.1 (-6.6 to +6.8) mm Hg. CONCLUSIONS The CCF describes an IOP-independent biomechanical property of the cornea that increases with thicker CCT and decreases with greater age. It is moderately strongly associated with CCT and yet explains more of the interindividual variation in GAT IOP than does CCT. Normalized ORA IOP measurements are not associated with CCT.
A 15mW 3.125GHz PLL for serial backplane transceivers in 0.13 /spl mu/m CMOS

A 3.125GHz PLL fabricated in a 0.13 /spl mu/m CMOS process in a area of 0.064mm/sup 2/ is described. The PLL uses an architecture optimized for low noise, low power and small die area. In steady-state operation, the PLL forces the up and down currents in the charge pump to match one another. The total measured jitter is 1.3ps rms when operating at 3.125GHz and the chip consumes 15mW.
Preliminary Evaluation of a Dual Chamber Pacemaker with Bradycardia Diagnostic Functions

LASCAULT, G. , et al.: Preliminary Evaluation of a Dual Chamber Pacemaker with Bradycardia Diagnostic Functions. Unexplained syncope is the main indication for the implantation of a diagnostic pacemaker. Studies on those implanted have shown that in patients with unexplained syncope, the diagnosis of paroxysmal bradycardia was feasible and reliable. The present study was designed to evaluate a new bradycardia diagnosis algorithm, loaded in a dual chamber pacemaker, in 24 patients considered as candidates for diagnostic pacemakers. During a mean follow‐up of 153 days, at least one bradycardia episode was recorded in 13 patients. The mean number of detected bradycardias was 6 and the median was 3. The mean delay between the algorithm activation and the first bradycardia episode was 67 days. The mechanism of bradycardia was atrioventricular block in 6 patients, sinus node dysfunction in 6 patients, and consecutive blocked atrial premature beats in 1 patient, as indicated by the event markers. In 11 patients bradycardia was recorded during the daytime only or day and night. In two patients the episodes were recorded only at night. Overall, the algorithm was well‐tolerated; however, some mild symptoms were observed due to the method of bradycardia determination, allowing bradycardia. Three patients were symptomatic as a direct result of the algorithm operation, and four patients had symptoms related to the single chamber operation of the pacemaker while functioning in the diagnosis mode (VDI). These symptoms were relieved with DDD pacing.