Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Value versus growth real estate investment strategy: is the win a flash in the pan?

The superiority of the contrarian investment strategy, though well attested in the finance literature, is being questioned in some quarters on the pretext that the gap between the performance of value and growth investment narrows over time. If this is proven to be true, it would imply that value real estate investment may not be advisable given that real estate is a medium to long term investment. This paper uses empirical real estate investment return data from 1985Q1 to 2005Q3 for US, and some Asia Pacific cities to ascertain whether the superiority of "value" over "growth" real estate investment is a "flash" in the pan, i.e. unsustainable. The office, industrial and retail property investments are examined in the context of the value-growth paradigm, and complemented with mean reversion and stochastic dominance tests. In addition to confirming the relative superiority of "value" over "growth" property investment, the results show that office and industrial property investments exhibit return reversal. This implies that the "win" is sustainable. Although the returns from retail property investment display inertia, the results of stochastic dominance test validate the relative superiority of "value" over "growth" property investment for all the three sectors. This implies that fund managers who traditionally have been favoring prime (i.e. growth) property investment may have to reconsider their investment strategy if they want to maximize their return.
Integration of Merged Delayed‐Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Multidetector Computed Tomography for the Guidance of Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation: A Pilot Study

MDCT/MRI Fusion for the Guidance of VT Ablation. Background: Delayed enhancement (DE) MRI can assess the fibrotic substrate of scar‐related VT. MDCT has the advantage of inframillimetric spatial resolution and better 3D reconstructions. We sought to evaluate the feasibility and usefulness of integrating merged MDCT/MRI data in 3D‐mapping systems for structure–function assessment and multimodal guidance of VT mapping and ablation.
Development of a human upper limb-like robot for master-slave rehabilitation

Master-slave rehabilitation systems are superior to traditional robotic rehabilitation systems on the respect of enhancing therapists' abundant experience. In this paper, a human upper limb-like robot which can mimic the spasticity of stroke patient is proposed as the master device. Therapists can operate this device to perform rehabilitation. In order to mimic the severe spasticity of patients, the device is required to exert high torque. Therefore, high reduction gear was mounted on a stepping motor. As a result, the device becomes non-backdrivable, which decreases its operability. Many researches have ever proposed the admittance control, Series Elastic Actuator (SEA) to solve this problem. Considering about the conditions of our device, admittance control can be realized with a high-accuracy load cell. However, a load cell induces instabilities and high cost. Similar with the SEA, a new structure is proposed in this paper. Two elastic bars are applied to connect the robot's forearm and upper arm. By detecting the bending of these bars, the interaction force exerted on this robot can be calculated. The tiny bending is enlarged with a long bar so that the deformation of elastic bars can be more accurately detected with an optical mouse. To evaluate the efficacy of proposed structure, experiments were conducted to exert three levels resistance using the device. Experimental results show that the proposed structure is effective, and the exerted resistance can be adjusted with it.
Dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen release from boreal Holocene permafrost and seasonally frozen soils of Alaska

Permafrost (perennially frozen) soils store vast amounts of organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) that are vulnerable to mobilization as dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved organic and inorganic nitrogen (DON, DIN) upon thaw. Such releases will affect the biogeochemistry of permafrost regions, yet little is known about the chemical composition and source variability of active-layer (seasonally frozen) and permafrost soil DOC, DON and DIN. We quantified DOC, total dissolved N (TDN), DON, and DIN leachate yields from deep active-layer and near-surface boreal Holocene permafrost soils in interior Alaska varying in soil C and N content and radiocarbon age to determine potential release upon thaw. Soil cores were collected at three sites distributed across the Alaska boreal region in late winter, cut in 15 cm thick sections, and deep active-layer and shallow permafrost sections were thawed and leached. Leachates were analyzed for DOC, TDN, nitrate (NO3−), and ammonium (NH4+) concentrations, dissolved organic matter optical properties, and DOC biodegradability. Soils were analyzed for C, N, and radiocarbon (14C) content. Soil DOC, TDN, DON, and DIN yields increased linearly with soil C and N content, and decreased with increasing radiocarbon age. These relationships were significantly different for active-layer and permafrost soils such that for a given soil C or N content, or radiocarbon age, permafrost soils released more DOC and TDN (mostly as DON) per gram soil than active-layer soils. Permafrost soil DOC biodegradability was significantly correlated with soil Δ14C and DOM optical properties. Our results demonstrate that near-surface Holocene permafrost soils preserve greater relative potential DOC and TDN yields than overlying seasonally frozen soils that are exposed to annual leaching and decomposition. While many factors control the fate of DOC and TDN, the greater relative yields from newly thawed Holocene permafrost soils will have the largest potential impact in areas dominated by organic-rich soils.
Sonic hedgehog Signaling Regulates Gli2 Transcriptional Activity by Suppressing Its Processing and Degradation

ABSTRACT Gli2 and Gli3 are the primary transcription factors that mediate Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signals in the mouse. Gli3 mainly acts as a transcriptional repressor, because the majority of full-length Gli3 protein is proteolytically processed. Gli2 is mostly regarded as a transcriptional activator, even though it is also suggested to have a weak repressing activity. What the molecular basis for its possible dual function is and how its activity is regulated by Shh signaling are largely unknown. Here we demonstrate that unlike the results seen with Gli3 and Cubitus Interruptus, the fly homolog of Gli, only a minor fraction of Gli2 is proteolytically processed to form a transcriptional repressor in vivo and that in addition to being processed, Gli2 full-length protein is readily degraded. The degradation of Gli2 requires the phosphorylation of a cluster of numerous serine residues in its carboxyl terminus by protein kinase A and subsequently by casein kinase 1 and glycogen synthase kinase 3. The phosphorylated Gli2 interacts directly with βTrCP in the SCF ubiquitin-ligase complex through two binding sites, which results in Gli2 ubiquitination and subsequent degradation by the proteasome. Both processing and degradation of Gli2 are suppressed by Shh signaling in vivo. Our findings provide the first demonstration of a molecular mechanism by which the Gli2 transcriptional activity is regulated by Shh signaling.
Analysis of national strategies for sustainable development with regard to fundamental conceptual premise

The problem of interaction between the economy and the environment gains special significance every year. At present, anthropogenic impact of industrial production on the environment has exceeded the sustainability limits of natural systems. Further conventional development of the economy is confronted with the limitations of the self-restoration potential of ecosystems: the non-renewable character of productive resources and the limited character of the environment to take production waste. The purpose of the paper is to identify the main directions for the implementation of national policies of sustainable development with account of the fundamental conceptual premise. The paper outlines the main principles, policies and scenarios for sustainable development and presents new components of environmental policy. The authors consider national strategies for sustainable development of the United States, China, Russia, the EU countries and pay special attention to the strategy adopted in the Netherlands. The paper determines the specific strategies features reflecting the interests of these countries’ population and the role of national economies in world economic relations. The paper explores the possibilities of the SDG Index for the identification, assessment and comparative analysis of countries’ actions to achieve the goals of sustainable development. Based on the results of the Sustainable Development Index for 2017, the authors carry out a cross-country analysis of the sustainability strategies of countries from the perspective of achieving sustainable development goals (SDG). It helps to identify the problems of using the index to track progress towards the SDG. Moreover, the article underlines the strengths and weaknesses of national sustainable development strategies of different countries, including Russia. It is shown that Russia has achieved high positions in eradicating poverty, with a significant lag behind other goals of sustainable development, especially such as the elimination of inequality, the provision of a healthy lifestyle, access to justice and the creation of effective institutions. Finally, the paper indicates the main directions of sustainable development in Russia.
Eyelid Detection in Localized Iris Images

Localization of human eye (iris) in a non invasive fashion with accuracy has great significance. Iris localization is the back bone of iris recognition systems. In this paper a novel method to localize the eyelid is presented. Iris is localized by applying the texture analysis approach. To find the upper eyelid, a rectangular average filter (size two by five) is applied to the segment above iris center and between left and right boundaries of iris. It is followed by sobel horizontal filter. Points of pupil and iris boundaries are removed and a parabola which best fit among the remaining points. This parabola is the required upper eyelid. Lower eyelid is obtained using the same method. Experimental results show that proposed method is very effective
What is the Normative Basis for Selecting the Measure of 'Average' Preferences for Use in Social Choices?

The aim of this paper is to consider what normative arguments might exist for advocating the use of any given measure of the average in the context of health state values. We begin by providing examples of the importance and implications of the choice of the measure of central tendency in stated preference studies (including both EQ-5D values and corresponding issues in the willingness to pay literature). Then, drawing on the theory of social choice, voting models and welfare economics, we consider the criteria that are available for judging the 'goodness' of alternative approaches to aggregation, and evaluate their relevance to the selection of the measure of average EQ-5D values.
Effect of a phase advance and phase delay of the 24-h cycle on energy metabolism, appetite, and related hormones.

BACKGROUND The disruption of the circadian system has been associated with the development of obesity. OBJECTIVE We examined the effects of circadian misalignment on sleep, energy expenditure, substrate oxidation, appetite, and related hormones. DESIGN Thirteen subjects [aged 24.3 ± 2.5 (mean ± SD) y; BMI (in kg/m²): 23.6 ± 1.7 (mean ± SD)] completed a randomized crossover study. For each condition, subjects stayed time blinded in the respiration chamber during 3 light-entrained circadian cycles that resulted in a phase advance (3 × 21 h) and a phase delay (3 × 27 h) compared with during a 24-h cycle. Sleep, energy expenditure, substrate oxidation, and appetite were quantified. Blood and saliva samples were taken to determine melatonin, glucose, insulin, ghrelin, leptin, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), and cortisol concentrations. RESULTS Circadian misalignment, either phase advanced or phase delayed, did not result in any changes in appetite or energy expenditure, whereas meal-related blood variables (glucose, insulin, ghrelin, leptin, and GLP-1) followed the new meal patterns. However, phase-advanced misalignment caused flattening of the cortisol-secretion pattern (P < 0.001), increased insulin concentrations (P = 0.04), and increased carbohydrate oxidation (P = 0.03) and decreased protein oxidation (P = 0.001). Phase-delayed misalignment increased rapid eye movement sleep (P < 0.001) and the sleeping metabolic rate (P = 0.02), increased glucose (P = 0.02) and decreased GLP-1 (P = 0.02) concentrations, and increased carbohydrate oxidation (P = 0.01) and decreased protein oxidation (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS The main effect of circadian misalignment, either phase advanced or phase delayed, is a concomitant disturbance of the glucose-insulin metabolism and substrate oxidation, whereas the energy balance or sleep is not largely affected. Chronically eating and sleeping at unusual circadian times may create a health risk through a metabolic disturbance. This trial was registered at the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (http://apps.who.int/trialsearch/) as NTR2926.
The European Commission's Fight Against Cartels (1962–2014): A Retrospective and Forensic Analysis

On the basis of information collected from all the published European Commission's decisions in cartel cases between 1962 and 2014, this paper identifies different stages in the supraâ€ nationalization of cartel policy at the European Union (EU) level. It analyzes major competition policy reforms, strategies and initiatives taken by the European Commission (EC), and its relationship and interaction with Member Statesâ€™ resistance and other policy playersâ€™ positions, which offers a new inâ€ depth study on the history and political economy of a key pillar of EU integration. It also provides a forensic analysis of the sanctioned cartels at each stage. This study shows that the introduction of the leniency programme was a critical juncture that allowed cartel authorities to identify cartels more effectively and to provide evidence for sanctioning collusion much more easily than before. This success was a key determinant for deepening the EU integration in competition policy. The intended drivers and the paradoxically unexpected shifters of such growing integration in cartel policy enforcement at the EU are discussed.
Volunteering: A Comparison of the Motivations of Collegiate Students Attending Different Types of Institutions

College-aged young adults spend significant amounts of time in voluntary activities and may represent an important pool of future volunteers. Consequently, understanding the motivations for volunteering, of students attending different types of colleges and universities, appears to be worthwhile. Do individuals attending different types of universities possess differing motivations to volunteer? The results suggest that students attending different types of universities differ in their motivations to volunteer. The primary differences involved students attending a public commuter university and an African-American liberal arts university. The results are discussed.
Class II malocclusion treatment effects with Jones Jig and Distal Jet followed by fixed appliances.

OBJECTIVES To compare the skeletal, dentoalveolar, and soft tissue changes in Class II malocclusion patients treated with Jones Jig and Distal Jet distalizers followed by fixed appliances. MATERIALS AND METHODS The experimental groups comprised 45 Class II malocclusion subjects divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of 25 patients treated with the Jones Jig, and group 2 consisted of 20 patients treated with the Distal Jet. Group 3 comprised 19 untreated Class II subjects. Cephalograms were analyzed before and after orthodontic treatment. For intergroup comparisons, one-way analysis of variance and post hoc Tukey tests were performed. RESULTS During treatment, the experimental groups exhibited significant increases in occlusal plane inclination and maxillary second molar mesial tipping. Additionally, the molar relationship improved and overjet decreased significantly in the experimental groups. The Jones Jig group showed greater mandibular incisor proclination and greater overbite reduction than the control group. No significant intergroup differences in nasolabial angle changes were found. CONCLUSIONS Treatment protocols using the Jones Jig and Distal Jet followed by fixed appliances were effective in correcting Class II malocclusion by means of dentoalveolar changes without significant skeletal and soft tissue changes. The experimental groups showed occlusal plane clockwise rotation and greater mesial tipping of maxillary second molars when compared to the untreated group.
Primary blood TSH/back up TSH measurements: an improved approach for neonatal thyroid screening

Objective: Neonatal hypothyroidism is one of the most common endocrine disorders related to mental impairment and growth retardation in newborns. In many countries, the neonatal thyroid screening programs are performed for rapid diagnosis and treatment of hypothyroidism. The major aim of this investigation was to improve the thyroid screening program using primary blood TSH/back up TSH measurements as some patients are missed due to technical and human errors. Methods: A total of 9,118neonates were evaluated on the protocol. On top of that, the quality control procedures were applied to improve the sampling technique and the laboratory results. Results: Three missed neonates by current programs using the cutoff point more than 20 mU/l for blood TSH were found by our approach. Conclusion: Results showed that the programs based on the primary blood TSH/back up TSH measurements improve the thyroid screening results. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 25:61–63, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Automatic detection of voice impairments by means of short-term cepstral parameters and neural network based detectors

It is well known that vocal and voice diseases do not necessarily cause perceptible changes in the acoustic voice signal. Acoustic analysis is a useful tool to diagnose voice diseases being a complementary technique to other methods based on direct observation of the vocal folds by laryngoscopy. Through the present paper two neural-network based classification approaches applied to the automatic detection of voice disorders will be studied. Structures studied are multilayer perceptron and learning vector quantization fed using short-term vectors calculated accordingly to the well-known Mel Frequency Coefficient cepstral parameterization. The paper shows that these architectures allow the detection of voice disorders-including glottic cancer-under highly reliable conditions. Within this context, the Learning Vector quantization methodology demonstrated to be more reliable than the multilayer perceptron architecture yielding 96% frame accuracy under similar working conditions.
Neuropsychiatric Symptoms and Regional Neocortical Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease

Background: To assess the relationship between regional neocortical atrophy and psychotic symptoms in adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods: Rates of change in regional neocortical atrophy as measured by longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging scans and the occurrence of psychotic symptoms and/or the long-term use of antipsychotic medications in 389 outpatients with MCI or AD in Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Results: Atrophy rate of 3 specific neocortical regions, lateral frontal, lateral parietal, and anterior cingulate gyrus, was significantly associated with the onset of psychosis including delusions, agitation, wandering, and hallucinations and/or the need for chronic antipsychotic medications. Atrophy rate of the lateral frontal lobe correlated most significantly with onset of psychotic symptoms or need for chronic antipsychotic medications. Conclusions: Psychosis was associated with volume loss in specific regions of the lateral frontal and parietal lobes as well as anterior cingulate gyrus.
How to Write (Even) Better Academic Student Reports and Papers: Some Advices to Students

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A Proton Pump ATPase with Testis-specific E1-Subunit Isoform Required for Acrosome Acidification*

The vacuolar-type H+-ATPases (V-ATPases) are a family of multimeric proton pumps involved in a wide variety of physiological processes. We have identified two novel mouse genes, Atp6e1 and Atp6e2, encoding testis-specific (E1) and ubiquitous (E2) V-ATPase subunit E isoforms, respectively. TheE1 transcript appears about 3 weeks after birth, corresponding to the start of meiosis, and is expressed specifically in round spermatids in seminiferous tubules. Immunohistochemistry with isoform-specific antibodies revealed that the V-ATPase withE1 and a2 isoforms is located specifically in developing acrosomes of spermatids and acrosomes in mature sperm. In contrast, the E2 isoform was expressed in all tissues examined and present in the perinuclear compartments of spermatocytes. The E1 isoform exhibits 70% identity with theE2, and both isoforms functionally complemented a null mutation of the yeast counterpart VMA4, indicating that they are bona fide V-ATPase subunits. The chimeric enzymes showed slightly lower K m ATP than yeast V-ATPase. Consistent with the temperature-sensitive growth of Δvma4-expressing E1 isoform, vacuolar membrane vesicles exhibited temperature-sensitive coupling between ATP hydrolysis and proton transport. These results suggest thatE1 isoform is essential for energy coupling involved in acidification of acrosome.
Comparison of collectors of airborne spray drift. Experiments in a wind tunnel and field measurements.

BACKGROUND In this study, the collecting efficiency of different samplers of airborne drift was compared both in wind tunnel and in field experiments. The aim was to select an appropriate sampler for collecting airborne spray drift under field conditions. RESULTS The wind tunnel study examined three static samplers and one dynamic sampler. The dynamic sampler had the highest overall collecting efficiency. Among the static samplers, the pipe cleaner collector had the highest efficiency. These two samplers were selected for evaluation in the subsequent field study. Results from 29 individual field experiments showed that the pipe cleaner collector on average had a 10% lower collecting efficiency than the dynamic sampler. However, the deposits on the pipe cleaners generally were highest at the 0.5 m level, and for the dynamic sampler at the 1 m level. CONCLUSIONS It was concluded from the wind tunnel part of the study that the amount of drift collected on the static collectors had a more strongly positive correlation with increasing wind speed compared with the dynamic sampler. In the field study, the difference in efficiency between the two types of collector was fairly small. As the difference in collecting efficiency between the different types of sampler was small, the dynamic sampler was selected for further measurements of airborne drift under field conditions owing to its more well-defined collecting area. This study of collecting efficiency of airborne spray drift of static and dynamic samplers under field conditions contributes to increasing knowledge in this field of research.