Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rating Agencies' Monitoring and Certification Services - Evidence from the Sovereign CDS Market

This paper investigates the reaction of credit default swaps spreads to changes in rating class, outlook, and watchlist entries for sovereigns. We find a stronger response to negative outlook and watchlist changes than for actual rating class downgrades, which shows that negative outlook and watchlist changes reveal more information. Consistently, we are able to predict future negative outlook changes and negative watchlist entries from abnormal CDS movements. Abnormal credit default swaps spread responses are analyzed with an unrestricted market model, which allows a sound interpretation of the reaction while controlling for market movements. Additionally, we compare the reaction of high and low quality obligors to credit rating agencies' announcements with respect to timing and magnitude. We find more signicant reactions for low quality sovereigns with higher magnitudes before and at the announcement day, indicating higher sensitivity to rating changes compared to high quality obligors.
Niche construction, human behavior, and the adaptive‐lag hypothesis

Niche construction is the process whereby organisms modify selective environments, thereby affecting evolution. The niche‐construction perspective is particularly relevant to researchers using evolutionary methods to interpret human behavior and society. On the basis of niche‐construction theory, we argue against the hypothesis that modern humans experience an atypically large adaptive lag. We stress that humans construct their world largely to suit themselves and frequently buffer adaptive lag through cultural niche construction. Where they are unable to do that, natural selection of genes rapidly ensues. Our argument has implications for evolutionary psychology and human behavioral ecology, and suggests that the methods of the latter are potentially applicable to all human societies, even postindustrial ones.
Elevation of HbA1C in Non-diabetic Hypothyroid Individuals: Is Anaemia the Connecting Link? -A Preliminary Study.

AIM Studies have shown elevated HbA1C in non-diabetic hypothyroid patients. Hypothyroid patients often show anaemia as an associated feature which is an another condition showing falsely elevated A1C. Hence this study is aimed to investigate whether elevated A1C in hypothyroidism can be attributed to anaemia. MATERIAL AND METHODS HbA1C levels of 120 non-diabetic hypothyroid patients (30 microcytic hypochromic anaemia, 30 normocytic normochromic anaemia and 60 non anemic patients) with 120 age, sex, plasma glucose levels and anaemia status matched controls were assessed. Anaemia status was determined by ferritin, Haemoglobin, red cell indices and peripheral smear. Glycemic status was determined by fasting Plasma glucose. RESULTS HbA1C levels in hypothyroid patients with hypochromic microcytic anaemia and normocytic normochromic anaemia were 6.82 ± 0.71% & 6.32 ± 0.75% against 6.43 ± 0.43% & 5.87 ± 0.46 % of euthyroid anaemia matched controls respectively. While hypothyroid non anemic patients showed A1C levels of 5.91 ± 0.31% against 5.46 ± 0.62% of euthyroid non anemic controls. Hypothyroid Patients with anaemia had a significant odds ratio 3.16 (95% CI 1.426-7.016) for HbA1C > 6.5. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Non-diabetic hypothyroid individuals with anaemia shows elevate A1C levels in prediabetes range. Hence care should be excercised while using HbA1C as a diagnostic tool for diabetes in such patients.
Arctic fungal communities associated with roots of Bistorta vivipara do not respond to the same fine-scale edaphic gradients as the aboveground vegetation.

Soil conditions and microclimate are important determinants of the fine-scale distribution of plant species in the Arctic, creating locally heterogeneous vegetation. We hypothesize that root-associated fungal (RAF) communities respond to the same fine-scale environmental gradients as the aboveground vegetation, creating a coherent pattern between aboveground vegetation and RAF. We explored how RAF communities of the ectomycorrhizal (ECM) plant Bistorta vivipara and aboveground vegetation structure of arctic plants were affected by biotic and abiotic variables at 0.3-3.0-m scales. RAF communities were determined using pyrosequencing. Composition and spatial structure of RAF and aboveground vegetation in relation to collected biotic and abiotic variables were analysed by ordination and semi-variance analyses. The vegetation was spatially structured along soil C and N gradients, whereas RAF lacked significant spatial structure. A weak relationship between RAF community composition and the cover of two ECM plants, B. vivipara and S. polaris, was found, and RAF richness increased with host root length and root weight. Results suggest that the fine-scale spatial structure of RAF communities of B. vivipara and the aboveground vegetation are driven by different factors. At fine spatial scales, neighbouring ECM plants may affect RAF community composition, whereas soil nutrients gradients structure the vegetation.
Literature Searches and Literature Reviews for Transportation Research Projects. How to Search, Where to Search, and How to Put It All Together: Current Practices

This circular presents the necessary steps for producing a high-quality literature review for a transportation research project. The circular explores how to conduct literature searches; where to search for transportation information; how to put it all together as a quality literature review; and what the definitions are for related terms. The publication is aimed at all transportation researchers, including university investigators, graduate students, consultants, and practitioners at state and federal transportation agencies. The e-circular also will be useful to sponsors of research when conducting initial literature searches and evaluating literature reviews to determine the quality of the products received.
Effectiveness of public sector audit reports in Indonesia (preceeding and following audit reform)

This research aims to enrich the existing literature on public administration, public accountability and public sector auditing. The research was undertaken through a comprehensive examination of the quality of information in the audit reports of the Indonesian State Audit Institution (Badan Pemeriksa Keuangan or BPK) with comparisons made between pre audit reform (1945-2000) and post audit reform (2001-2009). The study also evaluates the factors influencing the effectiveness and ineffectiveness of BPK audit information. To achieve these purposes, two main research questions were the focus of the study: How is the quality of information in BPK audit reports before and after audit reform? What are the key factors influencing the effectiveness and ineffectiveness of information in BPK audit reports? Data were collected through triangulation of observations, documentation, questionnaires and personal interviews. Purposive sampling and snowball techniques were applied in this study. The respondents and key informants engaged in this study were:(i) BPK auditors, Board members and managers;(ii) members of both central and regional Parliaments;(iii) public sector officials (auditees) at both the central and local level; and (iv)academics, researchers, and non government organisations (NGO). The study revealed that the Indonesia's Executive (the President, Governors, Regents and Mayors)has historically neglected the roles and functions of BPK. Since the third amendment of the 1945 Constitution in 2001, the Indonesian government has reformed laws and regulations related to public sector auditing, including setting new rules for strengthening and improving BPK's roles and functions. In situation where the Indonesian government needs immediate reform, BPK has been attempting to improve its professionalism and independence to provide better quality audit reports. Independence, professionalism and integrity are among the most important factors that influence public sector audits. However, in the past, BPK auditors lacked independence as the Executive influenced its administration and finances. Auditors also lacked opportunities to increase their professionalism by undertaking additional education and training. Since there was little incentive for auditors not to accept audit fees from auditees, the objectivity and integrity of auditors were reduced significantly. Fortunately, in response to the audit reform in 2001, the roles and functions of BPK have been strengthened. BPK has been able to give much more attention to education, training and the development of other skills and knowledge. BPK has also implemented improved remuneration and applied a rewards and sanctions system to strengthen auditor professionalism and integrity. This study revealed a significant improvement in the quantity and quality of BPK's audit resources, including increases in the number of qualified auditors, representative offices, modern equipment, and in the use of Information Technology (IT). However, the improvement in audit resources has not…
THE EXPONENTIAL CROSSOVER IN L-SHADE ALGORITHM

Differential evolution is popular and efficient algorithm for global optimization. L-SHADE algorithm is one of the most successful adaptive versions of the algorithm. It uses only binomial crossover. We study employing the exponential crossover in the algorithm. Our tests are carried out on CEC2015 benchmark set for learning-based optimization competition. According to our results, the employing of the exponential crossover together with binomial one into L-SHADE algorithm is beneficial.
Understanding need of "Uncertainty Analysis" in the system Design process

Software project development process is requiring accurate software cost and schedule estimation for achieve goal or success. A lot it referred to as the "Intricate brainteaser" because of its conscience attribute which is impact by complexity and uncertainty, Generally estimation is not as difficult or puzzling as people think. In fact, generating accurate estimates is straightforward-once you understand the intensity of uncertainty and module which contribute itself process. In our everyday life, we enhance our estimation based on past experience in which problem solve by which method and in which condition and which opportune provide that method to produce better result . So, Instead of unexplained treatises and inflexible modeling techniques, this will guide highlights a proven set of procedures, understandable formulas, and heuristics that individuals and complete team can apply to their projects to help achieve estimation ability with choose appropriate development approaches In the early stage of software life cycle project manager are inefficient to estimate the effort, schedule, cost estimation and its development approach . This in turn, confuses the manager to bid effectively on software project and choose incorrect development approach. That will directly effect on productivity cycle and increase level of uncertainty. This becomes a strong cause of project failure. So to avoid such problem if we know level and sources of uncertainty in model design, It will directive the developer to design accurate software cost and schedule estimation. which are require l for software project success. This paper demonstrates need of uncertainty analysis module at the modeling process for assist to recognize modular uncertainty system development process and the role of uncertainty at different stages in the modeling
Automatic remote sensing image classification method based on spectral angle and spectral distance

The remote sensing image classification is a key issue and hot topic in remote sensing image processing domain. Considering that the classification results of methods based on spectral angle or spectral distance are usually not satisfying, a novel remote sensing image classification method based on the combination of spectral angle and spectral distance is proposed in this paper. The proposed method utilizes the complementary of them to classify an image, that spectral angle is not sensitive to image gray. Moreover, based on the actual category of samples, weights of spectral angle and distance are automatically adjusted during the training process. Statistical and visual results show that, the proposed method is superior to methods respectively based on spectral angle and spectral distance in terms of visual effect, while overall classification accuracy and Kappa coefficient also confirm its superior performance.
Testing the Beta-Lognormal Model in Amazonian Rainfall Fields Using the Generalized Space q-Entropy

We study spatial scaling and complexity properties of Amazonian radar rainfall fields using the Beta-Lognormal Model (BL-Model) with the aim to characterize and model the process at a broad range of spatial scales. The Generalized Space q-Entropy Function (GSEF), an entropic measure defined as a continuous set of power laws covering a broad range of spatial scales, Sq(λ) ∼ λΩ(q), is used as a tool to check the ability of the BL-Model to represent observed 2-D radar rainfall fields. In addition, we evaluate the effect of the amount of zeros, the variability of rainfall intensity, the number of bins used to estimate the probability mass function, and the record length on the GSFE estimation. Our results show that: (i) the BL-Model adequately represents the scaling properties of the q-entropy, Sq, for Amazonian rainfall fields across a range of spatial scales λ from 2 km to 64 km; (ii) the q-entropy in rainfall fields can be characterized by a non-additivity value, qsat, at which rainfall reaches a maximum scaling exponent, Ωsat; (iii) the maximum scaling exponent Ωsat is directly related to the amount of zeros in rainfall fields and is not sensitive to either the number of bins to estimate the probability mass function or the variability of rainfall intensity; and (iv) for small-samples, the GSEF of rainfall fields may incur in considerable bias. Finally, for synthetic 2-D rainfall fields from the BL-Model, we look for a connection between intermittency using a metric based on generalized Hurst exponents, M(q1, q2), and the non-extensive order (q-order) of a system, Θq, which relates to the GSEF. Our results do not exhibit evidence of such relationship.
The Monitoring Effectiveness of Co-Opted Audit Committees

We investigate the relation between audit committee co-option and financial reporting quality, where audit committee co-option is measured as the proportion of audit committee members who joined the board after the appointment of the current Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Because CEOs are often actively involved in the director nomination and selection process, we expect that higher levels of audit committee co-option will be associated with less effective monitoring, as evidenced by more financial statement misstatements and greater absolute discretionary accruals. Consistent with our expectations, we find a positive relation between audit committee co-option and misstatements as well as between audit committee co-option and absolute discretionary accruals. Consistent with prior work which documents the importance of accounting expertise on the audit committee, subsequent tests reveal that the adverse implications of audit committee co-option are mitigated when the audit committee chair is an accounting expert. Our findings should be of interest to regulators, investors, and other stakeholders because we provide new evidence about how potential CEO influence on director nominations and audit committee appointments impacts the effectiveness of monitoring by the audit committee.
Ultrasonographic Morphologic Changes of the Central Aponeurosis of the Rectus Femoris Muscle in Individuals With Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract The aim of this study was to clarify the morphologic characteristics of central aponeurosis (CA) of the rectus femoris (RF) muscle in individuals with medial knee osteoarthritis (OA). Forty legs in 26 individuals with medial knee OA (OA group), 41 legs in 21 elderly individuals (elderly group), and 40 legs in 20 young individuals (young group) were investigated. We measured the following 4 parameters: (1) ratio of CA length, expressed as the percentage of RF length; (2) CA morphologic type (curved, straight, S-shaped, or irregular); (3) CA direction, defined as the direction of the line from the anterior to posterior ends of the CA (lateral or medial); and (4) intercondylar distance (ICD). Ratio of CA length in the OA group was significantly smaller than that in the other 2 groups. The curved CA type was significantly more frequent in the young group than in the other 2 groups. The irregular type was observed in only 7 legs in the OA group. In the young group, CA direction was classified as medial in all cases. Laterally directed CA was observed only in the OA and elderly groups. Within the OA group, ICD in laterally directed CA was significantly larger than that in medially directed CA. Central aponeurosis observed in the RF muscle in individuals with medial knee OA is shorter and sometimes shows an irregular shape. Laterally directed CA is associated with increased ICD in knee OA. Attention should be given to the tendon-aponeurosis complex in individuals with medial knee OA.
T lymphocyte mediated lysis of mitomycin C treated Tenon’s capsule fibroblasts

Aims: To evaluate the effect of T cell co-culture on mitomycin C treated and untreated Tenon’s capsule fibroblasts. Methods: IL-2 dependent allogeneic T cells were incubated over a monolayer of mitomycin C treated or control fibroblasts. Fibroblast numbers were evaluated by direct counts using phase contrast microscopy. To determine whether T cell mediated lysis was a consequence of MHC mismatch, co-culture experiments were repeated with autologous T cells. The effect of Fas receptor blockade was established by co-incubation with a Fas blocking (M3) antibody. Results: T cell co-culture resulted in a dramatic reduction in fibroblast survival compared to mitomycin C treatment alone (p = 0.032). T cell killing required fibroblast/lymphocyte cell to cell contact and was observed in both allogeneic and autologous co-culture experiments. Fas blocking antibodies did not significantly inhibit T cell killing (p = 0.39). Conclusion: T cells augment mitomycin C treated fibroblast death in vitro. Similar mechanisms may contribute to the cytotoxic effect of mitomycin C in vivo and account for the largely hypocellular drainage blebs that are observed clinically.
Robust adaptive dynamic surface control for receiver UAV during boom refueling in the presence of vortex

This paper investigates the approaching control problem of a receiver unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the presence of vortex induced by tanker aircraft/UAV during boom refueling. Sliding mode control and adaptive control are incorporated into the backstepping control architecture in each step to develop the controller for the attitude subsystem and velocity subsystem. The upper bounds of the vortex induced by the tanker aircraft are estimated with the adaptive law. To eliminate the inherent problem of “explosion of complexity” in the backstepping architecture, the dynamic surface control (DSC) is investigated to construct the controller. Furthermore, it is proved that the proposed controller can guarantee the uniform ultimate boundedness of all the signals in the closed-loop system. Finally, simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
An Application of Social Media Marketing for Community Sustainable Development

Though the social marketing approach has been developed from commercial marketing, it is a holistic approach from various social sciences disciplines like marketing, psychology, sociology, mass communication and economics. It is basically an art to explore new ways of analyzing problems and solving them effectively. For instance, social marketing influences sustainability through the use of marketing principles to increase awareness, understanding, change attitudes, and motivate the society to change, adopt, or sustain a particular behavior. This paper attempts to explore a framework of social media in light of disseminating the knowledge of a community-wide sustainability plan among various stakeholders. Policy makers nowadays no longer only talk to people, they are trying to listen and generate conversations, and convert implementation plans or call-to-actions that are responsive. This objective can be realized through a viral, guerilla or eventsbased marketing in a cost effective manner when integrated with social media. Social media is paving the way to a brand new way of looking at markets as organizations that are realizing the value of the Internet as a primary component of their communication platform. This digital platform is no longer just another messaging channel. In social marketing, the question is how to increase the connection as well as engagement between policy makers and ultimate individual beneficials. For instance, online social networks are increasingly important platforms for people communicating and sharing environmental topics, such as climate change (Newell & Dale 2015), and behaviors (Robelia, Greenhow & Burton
Impact of Employee Training and Motivation on Business Development in Banking Sector: Study Conducted in Pakistan

With the wide competitive environment, greater demand for providing better product and services, constantly varying in information technology and the business environment in commercial banking sector demanding more than ever in the past the importance give on the trained employees in order to meet the necessities of the customers and the business survival. Banking sector is now calling up broader banking skills, banking knowledge and abilities for maintaining their existence and growth that demand for the proper and effective training to the employees. In the different case studies researchers explain the importance of training with respect to business development in different organizations such as Expectancy Theory explain that motivation of employees enhance when rewards are given to those employees who efficiently transfer training. Training, Incentive, job involvement and motivation ultimately upgrade not only the efficiency of employees but also of the organization. It has correctly been said, employee development is the key to the organizational sustainable development. Organizations must have those employees who are able to rapidly adapt to an ever-changing world market. Companies should invest in continuing employee training and development in order to remain both employees and organization is successful. This study explores that how employee performance can affect the development of business in banking sector of Pakistan? Employee performance affects business performance positively and negatively. For measuring the effect of different variables on business development variables have been takin which include dependent variable (Business Development) and independent variables (Training, Motivation, incentives, Job Involvement). Data has been collected through questionnaire from employee of different banks. After collecting data statistical model is implemented on numeric data. It is observed that effect of every independent variable on dependent variable is different from each other in banking sector which show that the above discussed variables definitely affect the employee performance which directly or indirectly effect on business development. However, it is recommended for management of banking organizations to provide training facilities to their employee and use different tools for the development of employees a priority in order to get out the best workforce as well as enhancing the productivity of an organization. Further research studies are also recommended on the training and development of employees in order to have a broader understanding of its valuable impacts.