Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Testing the Pecking Order Theory with Financial Constraints

It is claimed that small and high-growth firms’ tendency to issue equity rejects the pecking order theory since their information asymmetry problem is most severe. This paper points out two crucial market imperfections ignored by pecking order, namely credit rationing caused by information asymmetry in the debt market and the frictions from the supply side of capital, can explain why small and high-growth firms choose to issue equity. We adopt financial constraints as proxy for the two imperfections, and empirically demonstrate that once financial constraints are controlled for, pecking order provides a better description of firms’ financing behaviors. To address the endogeneity problem, we analyze an exogenous event-addition into the S&P 500 index, and consistent with our prediction, firms are more likely to issue debt after the relaxation of financial constraints. Finally, we show that financial constraints are different from the alternative explanation of debt capacity constraints. JEL classification: G32
Hyperspectral Feature Extraction using Selective PCA based on Genetic Algorithm with Subgroups

Feature selection and extraction are important applications of hyperspectral images. In this paper, a new algorithm, selective principal component analysis based on genetic algorithm with subgroups (SPCA-GAS) is proposed. This algorithm has the distinct characteristic of combining feature selection and extraction together via the introduction of subgroup concept. SPCA-GAS tries to solve the problem of how many and which bands should be selected for feature extraction (principal component analysis, PCA), and then the transformed features are used for classification. Concretely, bands with high separability are first selected and then transformed to remove correlation between them. In this way, useful features with high separability and no correlation are obtained, which help to improve classification accuracies compared with traditional feature selection and extraction methods. Numerical experiments are conducted on AVIRIS data with 100 bands, and satisfying results are reached by SPCA-GAS
A Theoretical Analysis of Joint Manifolds

The emergence of low-cost sensor architectures for diverse modalities has made it possible to deploy sensor arrays that capture a single event from a large number of vantage points and using multiple modalities. In many scenarios, these sensors acquire very high-dimensional data such as audio signals, images, and video. To cope with such high-dimensional data, we typically rely on low-dimensional models. Manifold models provide a particularly powerful model that captures the structure of high-dimensional data when it is governed by a low-dimensional set of parameters. However, these models do not typically take into account dependencies among multiple sensors. We thus propose a new joint manifold framework for data ensembles that exploits such dependencies. We show that simple algorithms can exploit the joint manifold structure to improve their performance on standard signal processing applications. Additionally, recent results concerning dimensionality reduction for manifolds enable us to formulate a network-scalable data compression scheme that uses random projections of the sensed data. This scheme efficiently fuses the data from all sensors throu gh the addition of such projections, regardless of the data modalities and dimensions.
QuantDroid: Quantitative approach towards mitigating privilege escalation on Android

This work is dealing with privilege escalation attacks on Android based smartphones. From the conceptual side we revisit information graph based approaches that aim to identify critical shared resources between simultaneously running applications (Apps). The proposed QuantDroid architecture is implemented and flexible enough to handle different known overt channel resources by causing only a moderate performance penalty at runtime. Compared to recently proposed solutions like TaintDroid or XManDroid, our approach QuantDroid models the information flow graph precisely and quantitatively.
The importance of sexual self-disclosure to sexual satisfaction and functioning in committed relationships.

INTRODUCTION Past research indicates that sexual self-disclosure, or the degree to which an individual is open with his or her partner about sexual preferences, is a key aspect of sexual satisfaction and that partner's lack of knowledge about one's sexual preferences is associated with persistent sexual dysfunction. AIMS To replicate and extend past research by examining (i) how one's own levels of sexual self-disclosure are related to one's own sexual health (after controlling for partner's levels of sexual self-disclosure); (ii) how one's partner's levels of sexual self-disclosure are associated with one's own sexual health (after controlling for one's own levels of sexual self-disclosure); and (iii) whether gender moderates the associations between sexual self-disclosure and sexual health. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Scores from the Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction and the Sexual Communication Satisfaction Scale. METHODS A cross-sectional dyadic study using a convenience sample of 91 heterosexual couples in long-term committed relationships. Data were analyzed using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model. RESULTS One's own level of sexual self-disclosure is positively associated with one's own sexual satisfaction, β = -0.24, t(172.85) = -3.50, P < 0.001. Furthermore, partner's level of sexual self-disclosure is associated with men's sexual satisfaction but not with women's sexual satisfaction, β = -0.45, t(86.81) = -4.06, P < 0.001 and β = 0.02, t(87.00) = 0.20, ns, respectively. The association between own self-disclosure and sexual problems is stronger for women as compared with men, β = -0.72, t(87.00) = -6.31, P < 0.001 and β = -0.24, t(86.27) = -3.04, P < 0.01, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that sexual self-disclosure is significantly associated with sexual satisfaction and functioning for both men and women, albeit in different ways. Our findings underscore the importance of sexual self-disclosure and highlight the importance of the interpersonal level of analysis in understanding human sexuality.
The cutoff values of indirect indices for measuring insulin resistance for metabolic syndrome in Korean children and adolescents

Purpose The prevalence rates of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and percentile distribution of insulin resistance (IR) among Korean children and adolescents were investigated. The cutoff values of IR were calculated to identify high-risk MetS groups. Methods Data from 3,313 Korean subjects (1,756 boys and 1,557 girls, aged 10–18 years) were included from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted during 2007–2010. Three different sets of criteria for MetS were used. Indirect measures of IR were homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) and triglyceride and glucose (TyG) index. The cutoff values of the HOMA-IR and TyG index were obtained from the receiver operation characteristic curves. Results According to the MetS criteria of de Ferranti el al., Cook et al., and the International Diabetes Federation, the prevalence rates in males and females were 13.9% and 12.3%, 4.6% and 3.6%, and 1.4% and 1.8%, respectively. Uses these 3 criteria, the cutoff values of the HOMA-IR and TyG index were 2.94 and 8.41, 3.29 and 8.38, and 3.54 and 8.66, respectively. The cutoff values using each of the 3 criteria approximately corresponds to the 50th–75th, 75th, and 75th–90th percentiles of normal HOMA-IR and TyG index levels. Conclusion This study describes the prevalence rates of MetS in Korean children and adolescents, an index of IR, and the cutoff values for MetS with the aim of detecting high-risk groups. The usefulness of these criteria needs to be verified by further evaluation.
Death awareness and body–self dualism: A why and how of afterlife belief

Belief in life after death offers potential comfort in the face of inevitable death. However, afterlife belief likely requires not only an awareness of death but also body–self dualism—the perception that the self (e.g., the mind) is distinct from the physical, undeniably mortal, body. In turn, we hypothesized that mortality salience (MS) should heighten afterlife belief only when dualism is facilitated. Study 1 found that MS increased belief for people high, relative to low, in trait mind–body dualism. In Study 2, MS only increased belief when people first wrote about their thoughts and personality, which a pilot study confirmed facilitated dualistic belief, relative to thinking about the physical self. Study 3 used the brain–computer interface technology to induce a dualistic experience: MS increased belief when participants accurately “typed” without the use of their external body (i.e., no hands). Together, these findings support the position that mortality awareness and body–self dualism constitute a “why” and “how” of afterlife belief. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Intent Inference : Detection of anomalous trajectory patterns in target tracking

This paper develops novel stochastic models and associated signal processing algorithms for detecting intent in terms of anomalous trajectory patterns in target tracking. Stochastic context-free grammar models are presented for anomalous trajectories using the concept of tracklets. Bayesian signal processing algorithms for each model are also described to solve the related classification and prediction problems with polynomial complexity.
THE RELATIONSHIP OF PARENTAL BONDING AND INTERNET ADDICTION

The present study was conducted to study internet addiction in relation to parental bonding. For this purpose, a sample of 200 students was taken and they were administered the Internet Addiction Test (Young, 1998) and Parental Bonding Instrument (Parker et. al, 1979) for measuring internet addiction and the four dimensions of parental bonding viz. maternal care, maternal overprotection, paternal care and paternal overprotection. The study revealed significant correlation of internet addiction with all four the dimensions of parental bonding.
Effects of supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids to gilts on subsequent reproductive performance and growth performance of their litters

Logo Design Ruth Cronje, and Jan Swanson; based on the original design by Dr. Robert Dunlop The University of Minnesota is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, or sexual orientation. We thank the following sponsors:
Cell lineages and early patterns of embryonic CNS vascularization

First steps of blood vessel formation and patterning in the central nervous system (CNS) of higher vertebrates are presented. Corresponding to the regional diversity of the embryonic CNS (unsegmented spinal cord vs. segmented brain anlagen) and its surroundings (segmented trunk vs. unsegmented head mesoderm, neural crest-derived mesenchyme), cells of different origins contribute to the endothelial and mural cell populations. The autonomous migratory potential of endothelial cells is guided by attractive and repulsive clues. Nevertheless, a common pattern in both spinal cord and forebrain vascularization appears, with primary ventral vascular sprouts supplying the periventricular vascular plexus of the neural tube, whereas dorsolateral sprouts appear later.
Image calibration and analysis toolbox – a free software suite for objectively measuring reflectance, colour and pattern

Quantitative measurements of colour, pattern and morphology are vital to a growing range of disciplines. Digital cameras are readily available and already widely used for making these measurements, having numerous advantages over other techniques, such as spectrometry. However, off‐the‐shelf consumer cameras are designed to produce images for human viewing, meaning that their uncalibrated photographs cannot be used for making reliable, quantitative measurements. Many studies still fail to appreciate this, and of those scientists who are aware of such issues, many are hindered by a lack of usable tools for making objective measurements from photographs. We have developed an image processing toolbox that generates images that are linear with respect to radiance from the RAW files of numerous camera brands and can combine image channels from multispectral cameras, including additional ultraviolet photographs. Images are then normalised using one or more grey standards to control for lighting conditions. This enables objective measures of reflectance and colour using a wide range of consumer cameras. Furthermore, if the camera's spectral sensitivities are known, the software can convert images to correspond to the visual system (cone‐catch values) of a wide range of animals, enabling human and non‐human visual systems to be modelled. The toolbox also provides image analysis tools that can extract luminance (lightness), colour and pattern information. Furthermore, all processing is performed on 32‐bit floating point images rather than commonly used 8‐bit images. This increases precision and reduces the likelihood of data loss through rounding error or saturation of pixels, while also facilitating the measurement of objects with shiny or fluorescent properties. All cameras tested using this software were found to demonstrate a linear response within each image and across a range of exposure times. Cone‐catch mapping functions were highly robust, converting images to several animal visual systems and yielding data that agreed closely with spectrometer‐based estimates. Our imaging toolbox is freely available as an addition to the open source ImageJ software. We believe that it will considerably enhance the appropriate use of digital cameras across multiple areas of biology, in particular researchers aiming to quantify animal and plant visual signals.
Design of linear alternators for thermoacoustic machines

This paper compares the available technologies for linear electromagnetic alternators and categorizes them in order to find the best solutions for the thermoacoustic based CHCP. Tubular oscillating permanent magnet actuator featuring SMC stator with a quasi-Halbach PM slider is analyzed and modeled theoretically. Here, a similar configuration is compared to other moving magnet structure but employing open modular construction with laminated magnetic steel winding cores and a critical comparison is made relying on electromagnetic and mechanical simulations to retrieve the best solution for the thermoacoustic application.
Life satisfaction and alienation of elderly males and females: an empirical study in Odisha

Ageing is a universal phenomenon, it is not a uniform experience among ageing adults. Some persons achieve a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction in their old age, while others turn bitter and lament the decline of their physical abilities and social significance. Senior citizens, with their loads of silver-lined experience, and often camouflaged by their disabilities, pose as big ‘threats’ to younger generations. A probe into their affective, cognitive and conative domains in terms of life satisfaction and alienation provides light to their personality profiles and copying styles. Life-satisfaction and alienation among the aged are important concepts, as these have far reaching implications and can give us an overall view of the larger populations ageing successfully or not in our society. The present study was intended to compare the alienation and life-satisfaction of elderly men and women. For this a sample of 74 men and 66 women belonging to twin-city of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar of Odisha were selected. Life satisfaction and alienation were measured using appropriate standardized tests. The results showed that elderly women feel more alienated than the elderly men; the elderly men experience more life-satisfaction than the elderly women.
RDP3: a flexible and fast computer program for analyzing recombination

Summary: RDP3 is a new version of the RDP program for characterizing recombination events in DNA-sequence alignments. Among other novelties, this version includes four new recombination analysis methods (3SEQ, VISRD, PHYLRO and LDHAT), new tests for recombination hot-spots, a range of matrix methods for visualizing over-all patterns of recombination within datasets and recombination-aware ancestral sequence reconstruction. Complementary to a high degree of analysis flow automation, RDP3 also has a highly interactive and detailed graphical user interface that enables more focused hands-on cross-checking of results with a wide variety of newly implemented phylogenetic tree construction and matrix-based recombination signal visualization methods. The new RDP3 can accommodate large datasets and is capable of analyzing alignments ranging in size from 1000×10 kilobase sequences to 20×2 megabase sequences within 48 h on a desktop PC. Availability: RDP3 is available for free from its web site http://darwin.uvigo. es/rdp/rdp.html Contact: darrenpatrickmartin@gmail.com Supplementary information: The RDP3 program manual contains detailed descriptions of the various methods it implements and a step-by-step guide describing how best to use these.
Topical Paragraph Vector learning

Word embeddings are distributed representations of word features. Despite its effectiveness, most word embeddings share a common problem that each word is represented with a single vector, which fails to capture homonymy and polysemy. In this paper, we propose Topical Paragraph Vector (TPV) which is similar to word embedding training method. We also use ordering and semantics of words as features during training. In addition, we employ latent topic model to assign specific topics to each word given the contexts of the documents. With the proposed TPV model, we obtain multiple word embeddings for each word implicitly in the latent space. Thus we overcome the weakness of single word embedding to certain extents. Furthermore, our model combines word embedding within the document as a vector for more semantic-enriched document level representation. From our experiments, we can see that it outperforms the baseline model on text classification task in 20_Newsgroup corpus.
Identification of target-binding peptide motifs by high-throughput sequencing of phage-selected peptides

High-throughput sequencing was previously applied to phage-selected peptides in order to gain insight into the abundance and diversity of isolated peptides. Herein we developed a procedure to efficiently compare the sequences of large numbers of phage-selected peptides for the purpose of identifying target-binding peptide motifs. We applied the procedure to analyze bicyclic peptides isolated against five different protein targets: sortase A, urokinase-type plasminogen activator, coagulation factor XII, plasma kallikrein and streptavidin. We optimized sequence data filters to reduce biases originating from the sequencing method and developed sequence correction algorithms to prevent identification of false consensus motifs. With our strategy, we were able to identify rare target-binding peptide motifs, as well as to define more precisely consensus sequences and sub-groups of consensus sequences. This information is valuable to choose peptide leads for drug development and it facilitates identification of epitopes. We furthermore show that binding motifs can be identified after a single round of phage selection. Such a selection regimen reduces propagation-related bias and may facilitate application of phage display in non-specialized laboratories, as procedures such as bacterial infection, phage propagation and purification are not required.
The prevalence of energetic drugs use and the role of perfectionism, sensation seeking and physical self-concept in discriminating bodybuilders with positive and negative attitude toward doping.

Objective: One of the problems in sports community is the use of energetic drugs by athletes. The purpose of present study was examining the prevalence of energetic drugs use and the role of perfectionism, sensation seeking and physical self-concept in discriminating bodybuilders with positive and negative attitude toward doping. Methodology: This study was a cross- sectional survey. A number of 389 bodybuilders in Kermanshah were selected by clustered sampling; they were asked to complete the scales of attitude toward doping and physical self-concept, sensation seeking, perfectionism, and performance enhancement. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and discriminant analysis were used for analyzing the data. Results: The results showed 32.1% of body builders had used energetic drugs. There was significant relationship between perfectionism (r=0.302), sensation seeking (r=0.31), physical self-concept (r=-0.422) and attitude toward doping. According to the results of discriminant analysis, perfectionism, sensation seeking and physical self-concept significantly discriminated bodybuilders with positive and negative attitude toward doping; the role of this variables in discriminating two groups was 0.335, 0.362, and 0.406, respectively. Conclusions: The results of this study confirmed the previous researches’ findings and the role of perfectionism, sensation seeking and physical self-concept in discriminating bodybuilders with positive and negative attitude toward doping.
CtpA, a Copper-translocating P-type ATPase Involved in the Biogenesis of Multiple Copper-requiring Enzymes*

The ctpA (ccoI) gene product, a putative inner membrane copper-translocating P1B-type ATPase present in many bacteria, has been shown to be involved only in the cbb3 assembly in Rhodobacter capsulatus and Bradyrhizobium japonicum. ctpA was disrupted in Rubrivivax gelatinosus, and the mutants showed a drastic decrease in both cbb3 and caa3 oxidase activities. Inactivation of ctpA results also in a decrease in the amount of the nitrous oxide reductase, NosZ. This pleiotropic phenotype could be partially rescued by excess copper in the medium, indicating that CtpA is likely a copper transporter that supplies copper-requiring proteins in the membrane with this metal. Although CtpA shares significant sequence homologies with the homeostasis copper efflux P1B-type ATPases including the bacterial CopA and the human ATP7A and ATP7B, disruption of ctpA did not result in any sensitivity to excess copper. This indicates that the CtpA is not crucial for copper tolerance but is involved in the assembly of membrane and periplasmic copper enzymes in this bacterium. The potential roles of CtpA in bacteria in comparison with CopA are discussed.
INDICATORS OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE PERCEPTION OF IT AND BUSINESS MANAGERS – A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

In this study we sought to identify how the indicators of information technology use can assist in the information technology governance and alignment of organizations through benchmarking. Multiple case studies were conducted in four large organizations that act in the service sector of vocational education, in which information technology plays a key role, interviewing executives from technology and business. The main indicators used in the study where the index G (expenditure and investment in IT / annual net sales) and the CAPT (annual cost per keyboard). As a result, it became clear that the indicators are perceived as important for information technology governance and alignment, and their own quality management, integrating corporate governance. Therefore, the indicators presented serve as management tools and a basis of comparison with other companies, the sector of activity, as a comparison of the historical evolution's own internal organization (monitoring) and as part of negotiation for future technology investments, providing support to the information technology managers and business managers, facilitating their decisions. Keywords: Information technology. Indicators. IT governance.