Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Are US-Dollar-Hedged-ETF Investors Aggressive on Exchange Rates? A Panel VAR Approach

Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are a multi-trillion dollar market that epitomizes financialization due to its recent growth. This study examines the behavior of U.S. listed currency hedged ETF investors towards changes in the underlying benchmark and foreign exchange rate from July 2011 to November 2015 using a panel VAR approach. We find that investors are able to anticipate changes in future exchange rates and invest in currency hedged ETFs prior to changes. Granger-causality tests confirm that these investors proactively trade before large real exchange rate movements. These results suggest that the use of financial instruments such as ETFs to hedge against exchange rate volatility may have itself become a source of volatility, which have implications for the further financialization of the ETF industry.
The High School Literacy Coach: Searching for an Identity

This case study examined the role of one high school literacy coach as she engaged in her daily work in a large high school in the Midwest. Over a period of six weeks, interviews and observations were conducted, and artifacts were collected to develop an indepth understanding of the evolving role of the secondary literacy coach. The findings revealed the challenges of the role as carried out within the complex setting of a large school system. Major themes identified include a lack of clarity in the definition and responsibilities of a literacy coach, the importance of features that distinguish high school literacy coaching from elementary models, the role of the administrator in high school coaching initiatives, and the instructional role of the literacy coach.
Generations of İstanbul families, the elderly, and the social economy of welfare

As the population of the world ages, the balance between generations is irrevocably changing. Proportionally larger numbers of the no-longer economically active elderly will need to be supported by a shrinking working-age population. Women have increasingly come to outnumber men at advanced ages, presenting elderly women (and their families) with a novel and challenging old-age experience. Indeed, gender is central to understanding the relationship between generations and the glaring imbalance in intergenerational support, material and immaterial.
Giulio Fermi's contributions to biophysics and molecular biology

This paper presents a comprehensive list of the scientific articles of Giulio Fermi (1936-1997), son of the Italian-American physicist Enrico Fermi, published between 1962 and 1997. The initial research activity of Giulio was concerned with virology and biological cybernetics while, from 1975 onward, his work was completely devoted to protein crystallography. The crystallographic research was carried out in collaboration with Nobel laureate Max Perutz at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge (United Kingdom). A short biography of Giulio (Judd) Fermi appears inside John Finch's book A Nobel Fellow on Every Floor: A History of the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology published by the MRC in 2008.
Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli quantification in children stool samples using quantitative PCR

Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) is a common cause of infectious diarrhea, especially in children living in poor‐resource countries. In this article, we present a SYBR Green‐based real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method for quantitative detection of EAEC in DNA directly extracted from human stool samples. To test the proposed qPCR system, we examined specificity, sensitivity, repeatability, and also the degree of DNA extraction efficiency using EAEC strain 042 spiked into EAEC‐free stool sample. The specificity of this assay was proved using six strains of EAEC, seven strains of other E. coli types, and one strain of Shigella. The detection limit of qPCR was 67 CFU/reaction. In naturally infected stool samples, we found EAEC in quantities varying from 6.7 × 105 to 2 × 109 CFU/g of feces. We could not detect any reduction after stool DNA extraction for the amounts of 107 and 106 CFU/mL of spiked EAEC. This qPCR assay is simple, rapid, reproducible, sensitive, specific, and allows rapid EAEC quantification to be used in a variety of further EAEC studies. This new quantitative method provides a relatively simple means to quantify EAEC, which will likely be key to understanding the pathophysiology and impact of EAEC infection.
Familial aggregation of astrocytoma in northern Sweden: An epidemiological cohort study

This population‐based cohort study investigated the occurrence of familial astrocytoma among first‐degree relatives of patients with astrocytoma diagnosed between 1985 and 1993 in the northern region of Sweden. The 432 cases received a questionnaire. They were asked to provide names and cancer diagnoses of first‐degree relatives. Of the 297 answering, a cohort was constructed of their 1,890 first‐degree relatives (FDR). A significantly increased risk [standardized incidence ratio, SIR = 2.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.18–3.49] was shown for developing primary brain tumors (PBT). In 4.7% (14/297) of the families, a PBT was found. Interestingly, the increased risk was for astrocytoma only (SIR = 3.12, 95% CI 1.42–5.92), and not for other PBT (SIR 0.90, 95% CI 0.18–2.64). When the cohort was divided according to the median age of proband, most of the increased risk was restricted to the younger cohort (SIR = 4.71, 95% CI 1.52–10.99). Surprisingly, a significantly decreased risk for breast cancer and colon cancer was shown. The finding that the increased risk is restricted to astrocytoma only is a novel one. This study implies that familial aggregation of astrocytoma exists; the familial clustering occurs in a small fraction of astrocytoma, and might be explained by inherited factors. Int. J. Cancer 81:366–370, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Technical efficiency in maize production and its determinants: a survey of farms across agro ecological zones in northern Nigeria

Most researches on agriculture focused on how to achieve certain level of yield. However, few researches consider rational resource allocation to improve efficiency. Considering the need to increase agricultural productivity through proper utilization of resources, this study measured the technical efficiency of maize production in northern Nigeria and identified the socioeconomic factors that determined technical efficiency in different agro ecological zones. The study was based on the conceptual framework that there is a relationship between input use and inefficiency in maize production in the area. Respondents were surveyed and data on input use, cost of production and yield were obtained. Stochastic frontier production function and Tobit models were used to analyze the data. The findings supported the conceptual framework that there is technical inefficiency in the use of inputs and certain socioeconomic factors contributed to inefficiency. The main contribution of the study is in measuring the technical efficiency of maize production from various States and modeling agro ecological zones to observe the impact of variation in climate and production practices on the technical inefficiency. The implication for the study is that farmers and policy-makers need to be rational on the use of inputs to achieve high level of technical efficiency.
Psychopharmacological profiles of Leucas Lavandulaefolia Rees

Methanol extract of Leucas lavandulaefolia (LLFE) was evaluated for different psychopharmacological profiles with various animal models in rats and mice. The extract showed a potential reduction in spontaneous activity and caused a significant decrease in exploratory behavioural pattern by the head dip and Y‐maze test. It also showed a significant reduction in muscle relaxant activity by rotarod, 30 ° inclined screen and traction tests. The extract showed a remarkable potentiation of pentobarbitone induced sleeping time in mice. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise is associated with subclinical myocardial dysfunction in normotensive individuals

Objectives: An exaggerated blood pressure (BP) response to exercise is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes, even in normotensive individuals. The purpose of this study was to compare myocardial function between normotensive individuals with and without an exaggerated BP response. Methods: We evaluated global myocardial function using speckle tracking echocardiography in normotensive individuals. Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography and a treadmill exercise test were performed simultaneously in 171 normotensive individuals (mean age: 48 ± 8 years; 97 men) without any structural heart disease. Results: Among 171 normotensive individuals, 19 (11%) exhibited an exaggerated BP response (≥200 mmHg for men and ≥190 mmHg for women) during the treadmill test. Conventional echocardiographic parameters were similar between the two groups. However, on strain analyses, the systolic and early diastolic global longitudinal strains of the left ventricle (LV) and left atrium were lower in individuals with an exaggerated BP response to exercise. The peak SBP during exercise was inversely related to systolic global longitudinal strain of the LV (r = –0.35, P < 0.01) and left atrium (r = –0.41, P < 0.01). On multivariate analyses, an exaggerated BP response to exercise was shown to be an independent determinant of reduced global longitudinal strain of the LV (&bgr; = –0.20, P < 0.05) and left atrium (&bgr; = –0.28, P < 0.05). Conclusion: Normotensive individuals with an exaggerated BP response to exercise exhibit impairment in longitudinal myocardial function. Even without apparent hypertension, an exaggerated BP response could cause repeated increases in afterload and result in subclinical myocardial dysfunction.
Max-min fairness in compact MU-MIMO systems: Can the matching network play a role?

With the two conflicting demands of increasing the number of antennas in terminals and decreasing the devices sizes, considering compact MIMO systems became inevitable. Such systems suffer from both antenna coupling and noise correlation. This has led to the observation that the impedance matching network fundamentally affects the performance of such MIMO enabled communications systems. In this paper we consider a multi-user MIMO system, for which we design the matching network at the receiver given that it uses the optimal successive interference cancellation receiver. For the two cases of time sharing and no time sharing we design the matching network to alter the capacity region in order to maximize the minimum user rate. We compare to both the conventional matching, which ignores antenna coupling, and to the case of choosing the matching network such that the achievable rate is maximized. In both cases we observe a performance enhancement. We view our results as a new step in connecting the two worlds of information theory and circuit theory. Such results are of very relevant practical interest to wireless communication systems that adopt a large number of antennas while maintaining a small size.
BMI1 Is Recruited to DNA Breaks and Contributes to DNA Damage-Induced H2A Ubiquitination and Repair

ABSTRACT DNA damage activates signaling pathways that lead to modification of local chromatin and recruitment of DNA repair proteins. Multiple DNA repair proteins having ubiquitin ligase activity are recruited to sites of DNA damage, where they ubiquitinate histones and other substrates. This DNA damage-induced histone ubiquitination is thought to play a critical role in mediating the DNA damage response. We now report that the polycomb protein BMI1 is rapidly recruited to sites of DNA damage, where it persists for more than 8 h. The sustained localization of BMI1 to damage sites is dependent on intact ATM and ATR and requires H2AX phosphorylation and recruitment of RNF8. BMI1 is required for DNA damage-induced ubiquitination of histone H2A at lysine 119. Loss of BMI1 leads to impaired repair of DNA double-strand breaks by homologous recombination and the accumulation of cells in G2/M. These data support a crucial role for BMI1 in the cellular response to DNA damage.
Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 inhibitors: a patent review (2006 – 2011)

Introduction: Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) has received considerable attention since the discovery of LRRK2 mutations in families with dominantly inherited Parkinson's disease (PD) in 2004. The missense mutation G2019S is the most common LRRK2 mutation and has been identified in both familial and sporadic PD cases. The G2019S mutation enhances kinase activity suggesting that LRRK2 could be an attractive therapeutic target for PD and small-molecule ATP-competitive LRRK2 kinase inhibitors are one way to investigate this possibility. Areas covered: Currently, LRRK2 kinase inhibitors are being actively pursued by industry and academia. Herein, patents detailing the discovery of LRRK2 kinase inhibitors from 2006 through 2011 and the corresponding publications from 2006 through July of 2012 are summarized. Expert opinion: Wild-type and mutant forms of LRRK2 are currently being actively pursued as therapeutic targets for the potential treatment of PD. The increasing number of patent applications being filed for inhibitors of LRRK2 is a testament to this activity. Numerous distinct chemo-types have been reported as LRRK2 inhibitors with some demonstrating exceptional potency and selectivity for LRRK2 relative to other kinases. These compounds are being used as pharmacological ‘tools' to elucidate the physiological and pathophysiological function of LRRK2 and it appears likely that some will be investigated for their potential therapeutic effects for the treatment of PD.
Medial restraints to anterior-posterior motion of the knee.

We investigated the motion of cadaver knees before and after section of the medial structures and anterior cruciate ligament. The knees were tested using a 5-degrees-of-freedom in vitro knee-testing apparatus that measured anterior-posterior, medial-hateral, and axial displacement as well as internal-external and valgus-varus rotation. The fiexion angle could be varied but was fixed for each individual test. A 125-newton anterior-posterior force was applied perpendicular to the tibial shaft and the resulting motion of the knee was measured. In five knees the anterior cruciate ligament was cut first, followed by progressive cuts of the structures on the medial side (superficial medial collateral ligament, deep medial ligament, oblique fibers of the superficial medial ligament, and the posteromedial part of the capsule). Conversely, in five knees the medial structures were progressively cut first, followed by section of the anterior cruciate ligament. Tests were performed after each cut. With an intact anterior cruciate ligament, progressive cutting of the medial side had no effect on anterior and posterior displacements. When section of the medial structures followed cutting of the anterior cruciate ligament, anterior displacement exceeded that seen after isolated section of the anterior cruciate ligament. The anterior and posterior load-tests were repeated with the tibia fixed in 5 degrees of internal and 5 degrees of external rotation. Fixed external notation had no effect on anterior and posterior displacements. Fixed internal rotation significantly decreased anterior displacement only when both the anterior cruciate ligament and the medial structures were cut. The amounts of tibial rotation and tibial torque resulting from the applied anterior and posterior forces were low compared with our previous results, and we attributed this to decreased constraints on motion of the knee in the current testing apparatus. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Athletic injuries of the knee frequently involve both the anterior cruciate ligament and the medial side of the knee. Clinical studies have demonstrated that combined injuries of the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments often cannot be successfully managed conservatively. Our in vitro findings support the clinical data and suggest that injuries to the medial structures further compromise anterior stability when they accompany anterior cruciate injuries.
RBF Neural Network based Model as an Optimal Classifier for the Classification of Radar Returns from the Ionosphere

Research into the problem of classification of radar returns from the ionosphere has been taken up as a challenging task for the neural networks (NNs). It appears from the literature review that for the Multi layer Perceptron (MLP) NN trained with backpropagation, reported average classification accuracy was about 96% on the test instances. This paper investigates and designs an optimal classifier using a radial basis function (RBF) NN. Authors compare the performance of two NN configurations, namely a well-known MLP NN model and the proposed RBF NN model on the radar dataset collected from the published studies. It is shown that the proposed RBF NN, consistently, has 100% accuracy on "bad" instances and 99.1935% accuracy on "good" instances. The results show that the proposed RBF NN classifier clearly outperforms the MLP NN one in various performance measures such as MSE, NMSE, correlation coefficients, area under the ROC curve and classification accuracy on the testing datasets even after attempting different data partitions.
Molecular basis of late infantile metachromatic leukodystrophy in the Habbanite Jews

Late infantile metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is a neurodegenerative disease, most commonly caused by the deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme arylsulfatase A (ARSA). Late infantile MLD is frequent (1/75 live birth) in a small Jewish community which lived in Habban, isolated from the other Jewish populations. The gene coding for ARSA was sequenced in one of the Habbanite patients, who was found to be homozygous for an allele having three mutations. Two mutations are A to G transitions in the ARSA gene at positions 1788 and 2723, causing the loss of an N‐glycosylation site and a polyadenylation signal, respectively. These mutations are characteristic for the ARSA pseudodeficiency (PD) allele, which in homozygozity is associated with low enzymatic activity, but does not cause‐disease. The third mutation, which occurred on the background of the PD allele, is a C to T transition at position 2119, predicting a substitution of proline‐377 by leucine (P377L). Biosynthesis studies performed with cells expressing the ARSA cDNA into which this mutation was introduced demonstrated a severely reduced half‐life of the mutant enzyme. Five of 10 patients from the Habbanite community could be studied and were homozygous for the P377L allele. These observations confirm the genealogical data which pointed to a common ancestor for all the carriers of MLD among the Habbanite Jews. In addition, the same mutation was demonstrated to be relatively frequent among the Yemenite Jews. The origin and the means by which the mutation spread between the two communities remain unknown. © Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Income mobility, income risk and age: Finnish experiences in 1995–2008

A large register based Finnish income panel data with detailed information on the composition of income over a 14 year time period, 1995–2008 is used to examine Finnish income mobility and income risk. This paper first considers measures of income mobility which are based on the degree of inequality (Gini coefficient) reduction over time (Shorrocks 1978). Mobility in disposable income is decreasing with age, and with a further drop near retirement age. One observes a decrease in income mobility if the late 1990’s are compared with 2000’s. Permanent income inequality has increased in five year cumulated disposable incomes but not in factor incomes. If mobility is measured in absolute terms, there is little change, and the decrease in income mobility seems to be related to the rise in the inequality in cumulated incomes. In estimating relative risk premiums in average income, the education level, socioeconomic status and age are controlled for. Old age people have more stable incomes but contrary to conventional wisdom are exposed to some income risk. The paper presents estimates on the redistribution effect by age using differences between Gini coefficients of equivalised factor and disposable household income. Certainty equivalent income concepts are utilised to get some information on redistribution of risk. Young adults, 15–29 years old and elderly near retirement age 55–59 years old, seem to benefit most from implicit income insurance by public sector. But all age groups, including old age people gain from redistribution in certainty equivalent income relative to unadjusted redistribution of cash. Finding reduced income redistribution over the sample period is robust to a particular value of the degree of risk aversion assumed. It seems safe to conclude that the observed decrease in mobility in disposable household income which is attributed to reduced redistribution and could have shown as lowered income risk has not off-set the decrease in redistribution in cash. The results suggest that distribution of lifetime income has widened.
Avoid Fines by Warming-Up the Machines ∗

A company produces 1000 metal cylinders a day for 10 days. The government Safety Authority will take a random sample of cylinders, take a random sample of locations within each of these cylinders, and test for percentage Nickel (Ni) and percentage Chromium (Cr). For each sample in which the percentages are outside some intervals, they fine the company e1,000,000. If the proportion of percentages outside of some tighter intervals is too high, they fine the company e1,000,000. For quality control, the company first takes their own sample of the percentage Ni and Cr at some locations on some cylinders. Based on this data, they wish to know the expected value of the fine they must pay. Based on the data collected by the company, we determine the functional dependence of the percentages Ni and Cr on the day, cylinder number within that day, and location of the sample on that cylinder. We then used two different approaches to find the expected fine. By determining the frequencies of cells violating the specification intervals and making simplifying assumptions on the sampling method, we used properties of Binomial distributions to determine the expected value of the fine to be e430,000. By simulating the sampling and fine method of the Safety Authority, we determine a Monte Carlo estimate of the expected fine to be e429732; by performing a bootstrap analysis, we obtain a 95% confidence interval of [427879, 431588]. (Note: This paper is an entry in a game.)
The production of diesel-like fuel from catalytic pyrolysis of soybean oil

The pyrolysis of soybean oil was studied in a continuous fixed bed reactor. The effect of reaction temperature (400-550°C) and feed rate (0.21-1.04 g·min-1) were studied over the yield of the liquid condensates. The maximum yield (76.0%) of liquid condensate was obtained at 450°C pyrolysis temperature and 0.62 g·min-1 feeding rate. The catalytic pyrolysis experiments were studied over several oxides and zeolite catalysts. The calcium oxide presented a good catalytic result. The acid value decreased from 83.6 mg KOH·g-1 to 8 mg KOH·g-1 when in the presence of excess calcium oxide, and an attractive yield (41.1%) of diesel-like fuel was obtained. The compositions of the products were analyzed by gas chromatograph and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Some of the fuel properties such as density, viscosity and heat value were also studied. The results showed the diesel-like fuel produced with catalytic pyrolysis of soybean oil had higher qualities and might serve as a substitution of the fossil fuel.