Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Asset Pricing Models in Indian Capital Markets

Asset pricing theory is a framework designed to identify and measure risk, as well as to assign rewards for bearing risk. There is a general contention that the simple Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) does not adequately describe stock return behavior; other macro-economic factors may also play an important role. In particular, emerging capital markets like India provide a challenge to asset pricing theory; markets that have undertaken substantial liberalization of their financial sectors to allow for the free flow of foreign portfolio investments tend to be more sensitive to the macro-economic factors. The present study was based on a sample of fifty stocks listed in the S&P 500 index of the National Stock Exchange, belonging to eight of the most flourishing industries in the Indian economy. The objectives of the study were to compare and assess the CAPM and the Arbitrage Pricing Model (APM), as applied to Indian capital markets, and to find out how macroeconomic variables affect the returns of different securities.
Stability and performance analysis in the presence of LTV perturbations with bounded rates of variation: A Lyapunov based approach

Evaluating the stability and the performance properties of a system in the presence of time-varying parameters is often computationally demanding. A practical method is proposed in this paper to alleviate this computational cost. The stability conditions are first formulated as an LMI feasibility problem involving the search of a suitable parameter-dependent Lyapunov function. This problem is then solved for a finite number of parametric configurations and the validity of the resulting Lyapunov function is checked on the whole parametric domain using a μ-analysis based test. In case the validation fails, a worst-case configuration is determined using particle swarm optimization and the whole process is repeated using an augmented set of parametric configurations. The resulting iterative algorithm is successfully applied to a realistic fighter aircraft model.
Biochemical changes and oxidative stress induced by zearalenone in the liver of pregnant rats

The aim of the present research was to examine the toxic influence of different doses of zearalenone (ZEN) on the liver, especially oxidative stress induced by ZEN on the liver. A total of 48 pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into 4 treatments groups with 12 animals in each. The rats were fed with a normal diet treated with 0 mg/kg (control), 50 mg/kg (treatment 1), 100 mg/kg (treatment 2), or 150 mg/kg (treatment 3) ZEN in feed on gestation days (GDs) 0–7 and then all the rats were fed with a normal diet on GDs 8–20. The experimental period lasted 21 days. The results showed that exposure to ZEN induced increase in aspartate amino transferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase activities and decrease in total protein and albumin content in a dose-dependent manner and also induce decrease in superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities and increase in malondialdehyde content in a dose-dependent manner in the serum and the liver. The increased transcription of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) was detected in the liver after exposure to ZEN. These results suggested that ZEN not only caused damage in the liver of pregnant rats in a dose-dependent manner but also induced the messenger RNA expression of CYP2E1 in the liver.
Dynamic Programming Approach to Unit Commitment

A field-proven dynamic programming formulation of the unit commitment problem is presented. This approach features the classification of generating units into related groups so as to minimize the number of unit combinations which must be tested without precluding the optimal path. Programming techniques are described which maximize efficiency. Considerations are discussed which determine when generating units must be evaluated and when they may be ignored. The heuristic procedures described in this paper are concerned with supplying all apriori information to the program thereby minimizing its execution time. Results are presented from field testing on a medium size utility. Composite generating unit formulation is described for the economic allocation of constrained fuel to a group of units.
TECHNIQUES FOR GUIDING THE ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES AMONG RURAL RESEARCH PROJECTS: STATE OF THE ART

Diverse methods are available for evaluating benefits and costs of rural research projects. They have been developed in response to a felt need for information in a highly uncertain environment. These formal evaluation schemes are compared in an attempt to show whether any offer useful guidelines for rational allocation of research funds. The outcome is a series of conjectures on the level of effort to devote to research evaluation, and hence on the techniques which should be used. In most circumstances encountered in Australian rural research the optimal type of evaluation would be relatively unsophisticated.
Understanding Electricity Price Volatility within and Across Markets

This study analyzes how electricity price volatility evolves over time for different electricity trading hubs in several deregulated markets around the world. The goal is to uncover common features across hubs within each market in the daily spot price volatility processes related to seasonality, mean reversion, conditionally autoregressive heteroskedasticity (ARCH) and possibly time-dependent jumps. We apply our analysis to markets in U.S., Nord Pool, and Australia. We show that ARCH and time-dependent jumps are important statistical features of price volatility across all hubs in each market but with different levels of intensity. We also find that inferences about the role of seasonality components are sensitive to modeling of the ARCH and jump features.
Molecular profiling of peripheral blood is associated with circulating tumor cells content and poor survival in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer

The enumeration of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in peripheral blood correlates with clinical outcome in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). We analyzed the molecular profiling of peripheral blood from 43 metastatic CRPC patients with known CTC content in order to identify genes that may be related to prostate cancer progression. Global gene expression analysis identified the differential expression of 282 genes between samples with ≥5 CTCs vs <5 CTCs, 58.6% of which were previously described as over-expressed in prostate cancer (18.9% in primary tumors and 56.1% in metastasis). Those genes were involved in survival functions such as metabolism, signal transduction, gene expression, cell growth, death, and movement. The expression of selected genes was evaluated by quantitative RT-PCR. This analysis revealed a two-gene model (SELENBP1 and MMP9) with a high significant prognostic ability (HR 6; 95% CI 2.61 - 13.79; P<0.0001). The combination of the two-gene signature plus the CTCs count showed a higher prognostic ability than CTCs enumeration or gene expression alone (P<0.05). This study shows a gene expression profile in PBMNC associated with CTCs count and clinical outcome in metastatic CRPC, describing genes and pathways potentially associated with CRPC progression.
Nanometres‐resolution Kikuchi patterns from materials science specimens with transmission electron forward scatter diffraction in the scanning electron microscope

A charge‐coupled device camera of an electron backscattered diffraction system in a scanning electron microscope was positioned below a thin specimen and transmission Kikuchi patterns were collected. Contrary to electron backscattered diffraction, transmission electron forward scatter diffraction provides phase identification and orientation mapping at the nanoscale. The minimum Pd particle size for which a Kikuchi diffraction pattern was detected and indexed reliably was 5.6 nm. An orientation mapping resolution of 5 nm was measured at 30 kV. The resolution obtained with transmission electron forward scatter diffraction was of the same order of magnitude than that reported in electron nanodiffraction in the transmission electron microscope. An energy dispersive spectrometer X‐ray map and a transmission electron forward scatter diffraction orientation map were acquired simultaneously. The high‐resolution chemical, phase and orientation maps provided at once information on the chemical form, orientation and coherency of precipitates in an aluminium–lithium 2099 alloy.
Executive Compensation in Japan: Estimating Levels and Determinants from Tax Records

Most studies of executive compensation have data on pay but not total income. Because exchange-listed Japanese firms (unlike exchange-listed U.S. firms) need not disclose executive compensation figures in their securities filings, most studies on Japan lack even good data on pay. Through 2004, however, the Japanese tax office disclosed the tax liabilities of the 73,000 Japanese with the highest incomes. We obtained this data, and match the high-tax list against the list of CEOs of the firms listed on Section 1 of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. We thus estimate salaries and risk exposure in a new way. We confirm survey and anecdotal evidence that Japanese executives earn less than American -- about one-fifth the pay, adjusting for firm size and outside income. Tobit regressions show that pay in Japan depends heavily on firm size (a .22 elasticity) and on accounting profitability, but not on stock returns. Additionally, family-owned firms and those with large lead shareholders pay less to employee CEOs not in the family or with large shareholdings, as do firms whose directors have less tenure on the board.
Direct Tests of the Reservation Wage Property

This paper provides the first direct experimental tests of the reservation wages predicted by finite horizon job search models. Previous indirect tests were based on search duration and search income. The authors show that such indirect tests are weak by demonstrating that a naive rule performs essentially as well as the risk neutral model in predicting search duration. In contrast, direct tests of predicted reservation wages imply rejections of both the naive rule and the risk neutral model. The general concave model survives direct tests with reservation wage data, as does a specific (logistic) concave model. Copyright 1992 by Royal Economic Society.
Posttreatment sequelae of palliatively treated cerebral arteriovenous malformations.

OBJECTIVE Posttreatment sequelae of palliatively treated cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) were studied to evaluate the significance of these nonradical treatments. METHODS Between 1987 and 1997, 46 patients with cerebral AVMs were managed with treatments such as partial embolization, radiosurgery, subtotal resection, or feeder ligation alone. Their AVMs were not radically resected because of difficulties in radical treatment, hesitance to treat eloquent area lesions, or residual nidi after subtotal obliteration. The patients' posttreatment sequelae were evaluated. The duration of follow-up ranged from 0.5 to 169 months (mean, 49.4+/-39.8 mo). RESULTS Twenty-six bleeding episodes from AVMs were documented in 18 patients. The annual risk of bleeding in this palliatively treated group was 14.6%. Persistent progressive neurological deficit was observed in one patient. Major neurological deficits occurred in 10 patients (23.3%), and the mortality rate was 9.3%. CONCLUSION Palliative treatments cannot prevent bleeding and may even worsen the posttreatment course compared with the natural history of cerebral AVMs. A more conservative indication is required in recommending palliative treatment alone.
The Interrelation of Stock and Options Market Trading-Volume Data

This research empirically investigates the relation between common stock and call option trading volumes. The p aper hypothesizes and tests a sequential flow of information between the stock and option markets. If information trading for Chicago Boar d Option Exchange listed firms is predominantly accomplished through option trading, then existing research methodologies may be biased ag ainst finding any significant economic consequences in those instance s where option listing is an impor-tant variable. Results indicate th at trading in call options leads trading in the underlying shares, wi th a one day lag. Copyright 1988 by American Finance Association.
Quantitative sensory testing measures individual pain responses in emergency department patients

Background Refining and individualizing treatment of acute pain in the emergency department (ED) is a high priority, given that painful complaints are the most common reasons for ED visits. Few tools exist to objectively measure pain perception in the ED setting. We speculated that variation in perception of fixed painful stimuli would explain individual variation in reported pain and response to treatment among ED patients. Materials and methods In three studies, we 1) describe performance characteristics of brief quantitative sensory testing (QST) in 50 healthy volunteers, 2) test effects of 10 mg oxycodone versus placebo on QST measures in 18 healthy volunteers, and 3) measure interindividual differences in nociception and treatment responses in 198 ED patients with a painful complaint during ED treatment. QST measures adapted for use in the ED included pressure sensation threshold, pressure pain threshold (PPT), pressure pain response (PPR), and cold pain tolerance (CPT) tests. Results First, all QST measures had high inter-rater reliability and test–retest reproducibility. Second, 10 mg oxycodone reduced PPR, increased PPT, and prolonged CPT. Third, baseline PPT and PPR revealed hyperalgesia in 31 (16%) ED subjects relative to healthy volunteers. In 173 (88%) ED subjects who completed repeat testing 30 minutes after pain treatment, PPT increased and PPR decreased (Cohen’s dz 0.10–0.19). Verbal pain scores (0–10) for the ED complaint decreased by 2.2 (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.9, 2.6) (Cohen’s dz 0.97) but did not covary with the changes in PPT and PPR (r=0.05–0.13). Treatment effects were greatest in ED subjects with a history of treatment for anxiety or depression (Cohen’s dz 0.26–0.43) or with baseline hyperalgesia (Cohen’s dz 0.40–0.88). Conclusion QST reveals individual differences in perception of fixed painful stimuli in ED patients, including hyperalgesia. Subgroups of ED patients with hyperalgesia and psychiatric history report larger treatment effects on ED pain and QST measures.
CD28-mediated costimulation in the absence of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase association and activation

T-cell activation involves two distinct signal transduction pathways. Antigen-specific signaling events are initiated by T-cell receptor recognition of cognate peptide presented by major histocompatibility complex molecules. Costimulatory signals, which are required for optimal T-cell activation and for overcoming the induction of anergy, can be provided by the homodimeric T-cell glycoprotein CD28 through its interaction with the counterreceptors B7-1 and B7-2 on antigen-presenting cells. Ligation of CD28 results in its phosphorylation on tyrosines and the subsequent recruitment and activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase). It has been suggested that the induced association of CD28 and PI 3-kinase is required for costimulation. We report here that ligation of CD19, a heterologous B-cell receptor that also associates with and activates PI 3-kinase upon ligation, failed to costimulate interleukin-2 production. Moreover, pharmacological inhibition of PI 3-kinase activity failed to block costimulation mediated by CD28. By mutational analysis, we demonstrate that disruption of PI 3-kinase association with CD28 also did not abrogate costimulation. These results argue that PI 3-kinase association with CD28 is neither necessary nor sufficient for costimulation of interleukin-2 production. Finally, we identify specific amino acid residues required for CD28-mediated costimulatory activity.
Does comorbid anxiety counteract emotion recognition deficits in conduct disorder?

BACKGROUND Previous research has reported altered emotion recognition in both conduct disorder (CD) and anxiety disorders (ADs) - but these effects appear to be of different kinds. Adolescents with CD often show a generalised pattern of deficits, while those with ADs show hypersensitivity to specific negative emotions. Although these conditions often cooccur, little is known regarding emotion recognition performance in comorbid CD+ADs. Here, we test the hypothesis that in the comorbid case, anxiety-related emotion hypersensitivity counteracts the emotion recognition deficits typically observed in CD. METHOD We compared facial emotion recognition across four groups of adolescents aged 12-18 years: those with CD alone (n = 28), ADs alone (n = 23), cooccurring CD+ADs (n = 20) and typically developing controls (n = 28). The emotion recognition task we used systematically manipulated the emotional intensity of facial expressions as well as fixation location (eye, nose or mouth region). RESULTS Conduct disorder was associated with a generalised impairment in emotion recognition; however, this may have been modulated by group differences in IQ. AD was associated with increased sensitivity to low-intensity happiness, disgust and sadness. In general, the comorbid CD+ADs group performed similarly to typically developing controls. CONCLUSIONS Although CD alone was associated with emotion recognition impairments, ADs and comorbid CD+ADs were associated with normal or enhanced emotion recognition performance. The presence of comorbid ADs appeared to counteract the effects of CD, suggesting a potentially protective role, although future research should examine the contribution of IQ and gender to these effects.
Strong ties, weak ties and islands: structural and cultural predictors of organizational innovation

How does the tendency of entrepreneurs to engage in innovation relate to their structural and cultural embeddedness? Using micro-data on entrepreneurial teams and the organizational innovations they attempt to develop, this article presents a predictive model of creative action to address this question. Capacity for creative action is seen to be a function of the ability of entrepreneurs to (i) obtain non-redundant information from their social networks; (ii) avoid pressures for conformity; and (iii) sustain trust in developing novel--and potentially profitable--innovations. Probit analyses of over 700 organizational startups suggest that these mechanisms exercise effects on innovation via the network ties and enculturation of entrepreneurs. Copyright 2002, Oxford University Press.
Word-of-Mouth Segments

Most tourists love to share their holiday experiences with family, friends, and, increasingly, strangers, using the Internet. Such word-of-mouth represents a highly influential information source for potential tourists and is therefore of great interest to tourism marketing managers. This study aims to understand patterns among tourists when sharing holiday experiences, both in terms of the communication channel they use and the kind of content they share. The findings contribute to a theoretical understanding of word-of-mouth behavior by empirically showing that word-of-mouth is not a homogeneous activity. Rather, results show that distinct segments of word-of-mouth behavior exist. Segments differ with regard to content shared (visual/verbal) and channel used (offline/online). Two out of the five segments use only offline channels to share their experiences, and the extent of visual content shared varies across segments. The article illustrates how these findings could be translated into proactive marketing action aimed at instigating word-of-mouth behavior.
Molecular detection and identification of Aspergillus spp. from clinical samples using real‐time PCR

The definite and rapid diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis is necessary because of the high mortality caused. The objective of this study was to evaluate a real‐time PCR assay to detect Aspergillus spp. in clinical samples, based on the Light Cycler technology. Specificity was assessed by using DNA extracted from pathogenic and non‐pathogenic bacteria/fungi from Spanish Collection including: two Aspergillus flavus, four Aspergillus fumigatus, two Aspergillus nidulans, two Aspergillus niger and two Aspergillus terreus isolates. The analytical sensitivity was evaluated with different inocula (101–105 conidia ml−1), and serially diluted DNA of A. fumigatus. To assess clinical applicability, samples from patients at risk were analysed. Species identification was determined by analysing the melting curves. Reactions using genomic DNA from other species of different genera than Aspergillus were negative (specificity: 100%). Analytical sensitivity was 60 fg using DNA and 5–20 conidia using conidial suspensions. The linear range was from 60 to 6 × 107 fg. The Tm ranged from 67.34 to 70.7 °C for the different Aspergillus spp. studied. Nine hundred and forty‐eight consecutive blood samples from 127 patients were processed. In total, 10 (1%) of 948 samples from blood samples were PCR‐positive. The real‐time PCR assay provides a high sensitivity and specificity for detection of fungal DNA and rapidly identifies most of clinically relevant Aspergillus species.
Essays in Honor of Orley Ashenfelter Introduction

Princeton, New Jersey, to celebrate his achievements. The resulting collection of papers is published here. Like many others in the "first generation" of modern labor economists, Orley's early work focused on the quantitative analysis of trade unions. His seminal papers on strike activity (Ashenfelter and Johnson 1969) and trade union growth (Ashenfelter and Pencavel 1969) attracted immediate attention for their forceful use of neoclassi-
Read All About it: What happens following a technology shock

For decades economists have searched for the sources of business cycle fluctuations. Early business cycle research focused on leading and lagging indicators and, while many of these are still employed today, they fail to provide insight into the sources of the fluctuations. Despite recent advances in economic modeling, there is still much debate as to the cause of recessions and expansions. In standard real business cycle models, a large component of the fluctuations is attributable to technology shocks. Unfortunately, technology and technology shocks are notoriously difficult to measure. To identify the responses of the economy to a technology shock, I use new data from Bowker’s Publications that documents the change in the number of new titles in technology that were available for purchase in the American economy from major publishers. My findings indicate that, in response to a positive technology shock, employment, total factor productivity and capital all significantly increase. Although my findings are different from those in other recent studies, they are consistent with the predictions of standard real business cycle models.
What Has Happened to Union Recognition in Britain

This paper examines the determinants of union recognition status using data from the three Workplace Industrial Relations Surveys of 1980, 1984 and 1990. Our theoretical approach argues that the level of industry quasi-rents and union density at the time of the establishment's set-up should be considered the crucial determinants of recognition status. Confirmation of these predictions is found for private sector manufacturing establishments in the econometric analysis. Of particular interest are the non-linear relationship between historic industry quasi-rents and recognition status and the stability of the model over the three data sets, although there is evidence for a marked downward shift in recognition probabilities during the 1980s.