Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Early Exercise of Put Options on Stocks

U.S. exchange-traded stock options are exercisable before expiration. While put options should frequently be exercised early to earn interest, they are not. In this paper, we derive an early exercise decision rule and then examine actual exercise behavior during the period January 1996 through September 2008. We find that more than 3.96 million puts that should have been exercised early remain unexercised, representing over 3.7% of all outstanding puts. We also find that failure to exercise cost put option holders $1.9 billion in foregone interest income and that this interest is systematically captured by market makers and proprietary firms.
Antioxidative and cytoprotective effects of Artemisia capillaris fractions

The antioxidant effects of Artemisia capillaris fractions against reactive oxygen species (ROS) were evaluated by measuring scavenging activities against 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, superoxide (O 2− ), hydroxyl (HO·) and 2 nitric oxide (NO·) radical. Among five solvent fractions, ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest total polyphenol and total flavonoid contents as 648.75 and 89.09 μg/mg, respectively. Also, the ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest scavenging activity; the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50, μg/mg) value for DPPH, O 2− , HO· and NO· radical scavenging were 4.76, 31.54, 69.34 and 74.63, respectively. Additionally, the highest inhibition of rat liver microsomal lipid peroxidation was observed by ethyl acetate fraction. Except for free radical‐mediated protein damage, ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest scavenging activity. The effect of Artemisia capillaris fractions on cell viability and DNA damage induced by H2O2 in Raw 264.7 cell were also evaluated by MTT and comet assay, respectively. The protective effect of ethyl acetate fraction, as indicated by cell viability increasing 71% and DNA breakage decreasing 51% as compared with H2O2 ‐treated positive control. These results suggest that ethyl acetate fraction possess significant ROS scavenging and protective effect against oxidative DNA damage.
Transgenic regal pelargoniums that express the rolC gene from Agrobacterium rhizogenes exhibit a dwarf floral and vegetative phenotype

SummaryThe regal pelargonium, ev. Dubonnet, was transformed using the disarmed Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains LBA4404 or EHA105 containing the binary vector pLN70. This plasmid carries on its T-DNA the rolC gene from Agrobacterium rhizogenes under control of the CaMV 35S promoter and the npt II selectable marker gene under a NOS promoter. Six independent transformants were produced and grouped according to their phenotypic characteristics. Two transformants showed the same phenotype as the untransformed control plants. Three transformants exhibited a dwarf phenotype and one displayed a super-dwarf phenotype. Southern hybridization analyses of the T-DNA left border region using a npt II probe showed that the six transformants all arose from independent transformation events. Northern hybridization analyses showed that the rolC gene was expressed only in the four transformants that exhibited a dwarf phenotype. Our data show that the phenotypic effects of rolC expression in regal pelargoniums include reductions in plant height, leaf area, petal area, and corolla length. Earlier flowering of the rolC transgenics by up to 22d was also observed.
The shackled runner: time to rethink positive discrimination?

This article argues a case for reconsidering positive discrimination as a viable and necessary policy intervention to speed up the progression to equality in the workplace. It provides counter-arguments to the four main objections to positive discrimination: the failure to select the ‘best’ candidate, the undermining of meritocracy, the negative impact on the beneficiaries and the injustice of reverse discrimination. It concludes that positive discrimination provides the necessary structural conditions in order for radical, transformative change towards equality to take place.
Comparing the DSGE Model with the Factor Model: An Out-of-Sample Forecasting Experiment

In this paper, we put DSGE forecasts in competition with factor forecasts. We focus on these two models since they represent nicely the two opposing forecasting philosophies. The DSGE model on the one hand has a strong theoretical economic background; the factor model on the other hand is mainly data-driven. We show that by incooperating large information set using factor analysis can indeed improve the short horizon predictive ability, as claimed by manyresearchers. The micro founded DSGE model can provide reasonable forecasts for inflation, especially with growing forecast horizons. To a certain extent, our results are consistent with the prevailling view that simple time series models should be used in short-horizon forecasting and structural models should be used in long-horizon forecasting. Our paper compareds both state-of-the art data-driven and theory-based modelling in a rigorous manner.
Hybrid content caching for low end-to-end latency in cloud-based wireless networks

In this paper, we consider the content caching design without requiring historical content access information or content popularity profiles in a hierarchical cellular network architecture. Our design aims to dynamically select caching locations for different contents where caching locations can be content servers, cloud units (CUs), and base stations (BSs). Our design objective is to support as high content request rates as possible while maintaining the finite service time. To tackle this design problem, we employ the Lyapunov optimization method where the caching algorithm is developed by minimizing the Lyapunov drift of a quadratic Lyapunov function of virtual queue backlogs. This solution approach requires to solve a max-weight problem, which is an NP-hard and difficult problem to solve due to the coupling between CU caching and BS caching decisions. By exploiting the submodularity of the objective function, we propose a hybrid caching algorithm which achieves the constant approximation ratio to the optimal performance. Trace-driven simulation results demonstrate that the proposed joint CU/BS caching algorithm achieves almost the same performance with the exhaustive search and outperforms the independent caching algorithm and heuristic joint caching algorithms in terms of average end-to-end latency and backhaul load reduction ratio.
ChiQat-Tutor: An Integrated Environment for Learning Recursion

Novice Computer Science (CS) students struggle learning recursion for reasons such as unfamiliarity with recursive thinking and diﬃculty in visualizing program execution. Many tasks in CS require a thorough understanding of recursion. We introduce the recursion module of ChiQat-Tutor, an environment for learning CS algorithms and data structures. ChiQat-Tutor uses the pedagogical tool of Recursion Graphs to help students visualize, manipulate, and learn recursive processes.
Calculation and analysis of capacity credit of wind farms based on Monte-Carlo simulation

How to compare the wind power generation and traditional power generation in aspect of capacity is essential of power system expansion. The capacity credit is a convenient and effective way to compare these two different types of power generation. Unfortunately, the definition of capacity credit of wind farms is not clear and generally acknowledged. In this paper, a more clear definition of wind farms' capacity credit based on well-known concept of effective load carrying capability (ELCC) is presented. As well as a calculation method of wind farms' capacity credit based on non-sequential Monte-Carlo simulation, this method considered the failure of transmission lines. The secant method is used at capacity credit calculation process, and the modified direct current optimal power flow method is adopted in power flow calculation. Several different influence factors of capacity credit of wind farms such as the cut-in, cut-out and rated wind speed and the rated capacity of the wind turbine generator, transmission capacity of transmission lines and different integration solutions are analyzed in IEEE-RTS79 case studies.
Post-Transition Investment Behavior in Poland: A Sectoral Panel Analysis

Analyzing and projecting the behavior of macroeconomic variables in new EU member states presents special challenges, owing to limited time series of the available data. This paper presents an analysis of investment in Poland based on an underexplored sectoral data set. The determinants of investment are found to include lagged investment, lead production, relative unit labor costs, EU demand, corporate profitability, and greenfield FDI (foreign direct investment) inflows. Dynamic in-sample simulations indicate some overinvestment in 1997 compared with what the model would suggest, and a substantial underinvestment during 2000-2004. The model is then used to project future investment: while rapid investment growth is likely, it remains uncertain whether investment as a share of GDP will reach its peak levels on the late 1990s.
Voluntary Interim Disclosure by Early 20th Century NYSE Industrials

This paper examines stock market behavior associated with interim earnings and marketing-production disclosures by NYSE industrial corporations during 1905–10. Mean stock price changes are examined to assess whether these firms were more likely to disclose favorable information. We also examine the magnitude of price changes and trading volume to provide evidence on the credibility of these disclosures as perceived by investors. The sample and time period we examine enable us to evaluate the stock market effects of interim disclosures in a discretionary disclosure environment. We find no evidence that these firms were more likely to selectively disclose favorable interim information based on contemporaneous stock price changes. Also, no significant differences are detected in the incidence of interim disclosure before dividend or annual earnings increases compared to dividend cuts/omissions or annual earnings declines. We also document increased trading volume in the announcement week and prior weeks, but significant price changes are restricted to the preannouncement period. These results are driven by firms that do not frequently disclose interim information, and these firms' disclosures are frequently accompanied by concurrent news items (in particular, new financings). Price and volume results are weakly sensitive to the exclusion of cases with concurrent news items. Collectively, our results suggest no systematic tendency to disclose favorable information and managerial disclosures were at least partially credible in the early 20th century disclosure environment. Resume. Les auteurs examinent la reaction du marche des valeurs mobilieres a la publication d'information periodique relative aux benefices ainsi qu'a la production et au marketing, par les societes industrielles dont les titres etaient inscrits a la Bourse de New York durant la periode 1905–1910 et s'interessent aux variations du cours moyen des titres, afin d'evaluer si ces societes etaient davantage enclines a publier de l'information favorable. Ils examinent egalement l'ampleur des variations du cours des titres et du volume des operations afin d'etablir comment les investisseurs percevaient la credibilite de l'information publiee. Les variations du cours des titres observees a l'epoque ne permettent pas de conclure que ces societes etaient davantage enclines a selectionner l'information periodique la plus favorable, et les auteurs ne detectent pas non plus de differences significatives dans les consequences de la publication d'information periodique prealablement a des hausses de dividendes ou de benefices annuels, par rapport a des reductions ou des omissions de dividendes ou des diminutions des benefices annuels. Dans l'ensemble, les resultats portent a croire qu'il n'y a pas de tendance systematique a la publication d'information favorable, et que l'information publiee par la direction est au moins en partie credible dans le contexte du debut du XXe siecle.
“It Was My Fault”: Bullied Students’ Causal and Controllable Attributions in Bullying Blogs

Student bullying is a growing and damaging social problem. The devastating outcomes bullied individuals often experience due to such treatment make understanding this phenomenon imperative. Utilizing Heider’s (1958) attribution theory, this study explores how bullied students (n = 100) attribute locus of causality and controllability for their victimization in 5 bullying blogs. Findings from this investigation reveal that (a) male and female bloggers’ causal and controllable attributions do not differ; (b) bloggers most often attribute blame to bullies, although a noteworthy portion also attribute internal causation; and (c) bloggers often attribute bullying as uncontrollable for several reasons. This study also identifies factors that influence shifts in negative attributions about bullying. These findings inform bullying programs with the hope of reducing destructive attribution formations that potentially lead to prolonged victimization and detrimental consequences.
Immunoaffinity Enrichment and Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Protein Methylation

Protein methylation is a common posttranslational modification that mostly occurs on arginine and lysine residues. Arginine methylation has been reported to regulate RNA processing, gene transcription, DNA damage repair, protein translocation, and signal transduction. Lysine methylation is best known to regulate histone function and is involved in epigenetic regulation of gene transcription. To better study protein methylation, we have developed highly specific antibodies against monomethyl arginine; asymmetric dimethyl arginine; and monomethyl, dimethyl, and trimethyl lysine motifs. These antibodies were used to perform immunoaffinity purification of methyl peptides followed by LC-MS/MS analysis to identify and quantify arginine and lysine methylation sites in several model studies. Overall, we identified over 1000 arginine methylation sites in human cell line and mouse tissues, and ∼160 lysine methylation sites in human cell line HCT116. The number of methylation sites identified in this study exceeds those found in the literature to date. Detailed analysis of arginine-methylated proteins observed in mouse brain compared with those found in mouse embryo shows a tissue-specific distribution of arginine methylation, and extends the types of proteins that are known to be arginine methylated to include many new protein types. Many arginine-methylated proteins that we identified from the brain, including receptors, ion channels, transporters, and vesicle proteins, are involved in synaptic transmission, whereas the most abundant methylated proteins identified from mouse embryo are transcriptional regulators and RNA processing proteins.
Public sector benchmarking and performance improvement: what is the link and can it be improved?

Benchmarking is often used in the public sector as a way of driving up performance. This article explains why benchmarking does not necessarily lead to better performance and why it can generate unwanted consequences. The article recommends ways of improving the link between benchmarking and performance. These involve the design of the benchmarking scheme, the presentation of benchmarking scores, the stakeholders to which these scores will be disclosed, and the actions that will be undertaken as a follow-up.
Electronics dedicated to multi-anode photomultiplier tubes for imaging scintigraphic devices

The common photo-detector used in the imaging scintigraphic devices (SPECT, PET, gamma camera) is still the traditional photomultiplier tube (PMT). Nowadays, semiconductor detectors are available to replace them but also multi-anode photomultipliers which have the advantages of a very good stability and reliability, essential requirements for commercial products. Our group has developed a small animal SPECT device and a per-operative gamma camera designed for the localization of sentinel lymph node in breast cancer treatment. Both systems are based on two different multi-anode PMTs suited to the needed sensitive area. A compact electronics has been developed to be adaptable for both projects. It integrates all the necessary signal processing, power supplies, first data treatment and communicates through a USB link with a computer where the scintigraphic image is created. This document presents this generic electronics which could be still adapted for other applications using multi-anode photomultipliers
Primary microcephaly with ASPM mutation shows simplified cortical gyration with antero‐posterior gradient pre‐ and post‐natally

Primary microcephaly is a disorder of brain development characterized by a congenitally small but normally formed brain, and non‐progressive mild‐to‐moderate mental retardation. Most cases are inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, with genetic heterogeneity, the ASPM locus being most common. Postnatal imaging data are scarce and prenatal imaging unreported. Microcephaly with simplified gyral pattern shares features with primary microcephaly, but it is not clear whether these disorders are part of a phenotypic continuum. We examined a consanguineous family with a daughter affected with primary microcephaly and an ongoing pregnancy. We performed prenatal and postnatal brain magnetic resonance imaging and genetic analyses in the course of genetic evaluation. The affected daughter and the fetus were homozygous for polymorphic markers linked to the ASPM locus, and we identified a novel, truncating ASPM mutation by direct sequencing of the gene. Imaging at 30 and 35 gestational weeks showed microcephaly with simplified gyration, more severe anteriorly. The antero‐posterior gradient of gyration persisted 1 week after birth. Brain imaging in the affected sister also showed some degree of a predominantly anterior simplification of gyration. Our data suggest that one form of autosomal recessive microcephaly is allelic to at least a subset of microcephaly with simplified gyral pattern, and that the neuronal depletion associated with the ASPM defect predominantly affects the anterior cortex. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An image processing method for floating benzene slick detection on water surface

In the last 20 years, transport of hazardous chemicals by ship has increased along with the high risk of spill events, which could cause acute and long-term environmental effects. Among hazardous chemicals, benzene and its similar chemicals are carcinogenic. In this paper, the aim of this work is to propose an accurate, quantitative, and non-polluted method to detect floating benzene on a water surface. Benzene of 14 to 18 ml was dropped on the water, and their images were obtained at spectral band of 600nm. Otsu thresholding segmentation was adopted to divide the image into the background and the target briefly, after which morphological operations were used to eliminate the noise components of the background. Then Roberts edge operator was used to detect the edge of the target, and least-squares fitting of ellipses was carried out to link the incomplete edge in order to recover the full region of floating benzene in the image. As a result, the recovered region coincided closely with the area of floating benzene in the origin images. The spreading area of the floating benzene was calculated from the recovered region, and was correlated to the actual amount of benzene. High correlationship was observed, which indicated that the proposed image detection method has potential for floating benzene slick on water surface under mild windy condition.
Mutational spectrum in the MEFV and TNFRSF1A genes in patients suffering from AA amyloidosis and recurrent inflammatory attacks.

BACKGROUND Among hereditary fevers characterized by recurrent attacks of fever and organ localized inflammation, familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), and tumour necrosis factor receptor superfamily 1A (TNFRSF1A) receptor associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS) are diseases with identified genes that can be associated with renal amyloidosis of the AA type. In this study we have characterized FMF and TRAPS genotypes in 38 unrelated patients suffering from amyloidosis AA and recurrent inflammatory attacks. METHODS Mutations of the MEFV and TNFRSF1A genes, responsible respectively for FMF and TRAPS, were searched for by amplifying, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), genomic DNA, and direct sequencing. RESULTS Twenty-seven patients (71%) carried mutations in MEFV (22 patients with two mutations, two patients with a single mutation) or TNFRSF1A genes (three patients). Patients with MEFV mutations belonged to the classical at-risk ethnic group for FMF: Sephardic Jews, Turks, Armenians, and Arabs from the Maghreb. The main genotype encountered was M694V/M694V (19/22), one Turkish patient was M680I/M680I, and two Arab patients from the Maghreb were M694I/M694I. We found three Caucasian patients with the C55S, C70Y, R92Q mutations in the TNFRSF1A gene. CONCLUSIONS In this series we observed that FMF is the main cause of AA amyloidosis in Sephardic Jews and Turks. MEFV and TNFRSF1A mutations were found in only 6 of 14 Arab patients from the Maghreb. We found three families (one Caucasian and two from Maghreb) with AA amyloidosis without MEFV or TNFRSF1A mutations, suggesting that other genetic cause(s) exist(s). The characterization of mutations in MEFV and TNFRSF1A is important for the therapeutic behaviour of AA amyloidosis associated with inherited recurrent fever.
A zone co‐operation approach for efficient caching in mobile ad hoc networks

Mobile Ad hoc NETwork (MANET) presents a constrained communication environment due to fundamental limitations of client resources, insufficient wireless bandwidth and users' frequent mobility. Caching of frequently accessed data in such environment is a potential technique that can improve the data access performance and availability. Co‐operative caching, which allows the sharing and co‐ordination of cached data among clients, can further explore the potential of the caching techniques. In this paper, we propose a novel scheme, called zone co‐operative (ZC) for caching in MANETs. In ZC scheme, one‐hop neighbours of a mobile client form a co‐operative cache zone. For a data miss in the local cache, each client first searches the data in its zone before forwarding the request to the next client that lies along routing path towards server. As a part of cache management, cache admission control and value‐based replacement policy are developed to improve the data accessibility and reduce the local cache miss ratio. An analytical study of ZC based on data popularity, node density and transmission range is also performed. Simulation experiments show that the ZC caching mechanism achieves significant improvements in cache hit ratio and average query latency in comparison with other caching strategies. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Estimating Liquidity Using Information on the Multivariate Trading Process

In this paper we model the dynamic multivariate density of discrete bid and ask quote changes and their associated depths. We account for the contempo- raneous relationship between these trading marks by exploiting the concept of copula functions. Thereby we show how to model truncations of the mul- tivariate density in an easy way. A Metropolized-Independence Sampler is applied to draw from the dynamic multivariate density. The samples drawn serve to construct the dynamic density function of the quote slope liquidity measure, which enables us to quantify time varying liquidity risk. We analyze the influence of the decimalization at the NYSE on liquidity.