Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
European Sovereign Debt Crisis and the Performance of Dutch IPOs

We provide new evidence of the impact of the ongoing deep financial crisis on the performance of Dutch IPOs during the period from January 1990 to May 2012. The findings indicate an increasing level of underpricing as a result of the recent financial crunch. This situation is attributed to the aggressive efforts of underwriters to create demand as well as their strong focus on rewarding investors for their participation. Their actions build the soil for long-term underperformance, a conclusion supported by multiple studies in the literature. Pre-owner loyalty signals the IPOs' quality and promotes compensation by less underpricing. Going public with the aid of a reputable underwriter does not pay off, as it does not reduce the amount of money left on the table. Consistent with the information revelation theory, we argue that the underpricing phenomenon can be largely explained by a general desire for listing.
Framing Qualitative Bankruptcy Prediction Rules Using Ant Colony Algorithm

This paper is to frame qualitative Bankruptcy Prediction (BP) rules using the concept of Ant Colony Algorithm. There are various researches in the area of qualitative BP, among them Genetic Algorithm (GA) seems to more effective. But the redundancy and over lapping of the generated rules cannot be overcome by GA. In our work, we are proposing ACO for generating the rules for qualitative BP. The heuristic function and the pheromone trails are some of the features of ACO, which helps to give a positive feedback in generating rules and to avoid false rules. We are using Association Rule Miner (ARM) algorithm to cluster the generated rules and Partial Swarm Optimization (PSO) Technique to get the best rules among the generated rules. By using this we can generate better rules with more qualitative factors and redundancy and overlapping of the rules can also be avoided.
The DIRHA-ENGLISH corpus and related tasks for distant-speech recognition in domestic environments

This paper introduces the contents and the possible usage of the DIRHA-ENGLISH multi-microphone corpus, recently realized under the EC DIRHA project. The reference scenario is a domestic environment equipped with a large number of microphones and microphone arrays distributed in space. The corpus is composed of both real and simulated material, and it includes 12 US and 12 UK English native speakers. Each speaker uttered different sets of phonetically-rich sentences, newspaper articles, conversational speech, keywords, and commands. From this material, a large set of 1-minute sequences was generated, which also includes typical domestic background noise as well as inter/intra-room reverberation effects. Dev and test sets were derived, which represent a very precious material for different studies on multi-microphone speech processing and distant-speech recognition. Various tasks and corresponding Kaldi recipes have already been developed. The paper reports a first set of baseline results obtained using different techniques, including Deep Neural Networks (DNN), aligned with the state-of-the-art at international level.
Effect of Delays in Processing Blood Samples on Measured Endogenous Plasma Sex Hormone Levels in Women

Time spent in transit may affect the concentration of various constituents of collected blood samples and, consequently, results of sex hormone assays. Whole blood was collected from 46 women, and one third was processed immediately, one third was stored at ambient conditions (22°C) for 1 day, and one third was stored for 2 days. Estradiol concentration increased by 7.1% [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 3.2-11.3%] after a delay in processing of 1 day and by 5.6% (95% CI, 0.2-11.4%) after a delay in processing of 2 days; the change was most apparent at lower than median concentrations. Progesterone concentrations showed no substantial change. Testosterone concentrations changed by 23.9% (95% CI, 17.8-30.3%) after a delay of 1 day but little thereafter. The sex hormone–binding globulin concentration decreased by 6.6% (95% CI, 4.6-8.6%) and 10.9% (95% CI, 8.1-13.6%), follicle-stimulating hormone increased by 7.4% (95% CI, 4.2-10.7%) and 13.9% (95% CI, 8.7-19.3%), and luteinizing hormone increased by 4.9% (95% CI, 1.3-8.5%) and 6.7% (95% CI, 2.2-11.5%) after a delay in processing of 1 and 2 days. Increases in calculated values for biologically available levels of estradiol and testosterone were greater than the increases seen in measured total hormone concentrations. Similar changes are likely when samples are delayed in transit, and evidence of etiology may be obscured unless study designs or analyses take into account processing delays. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(6):1136–9)
'We Women Worry a Lot About Our Husbands': Ghanaian women talking about their health and their relationships with men

Discussions of the health of women in the developing world have typically been shaped by the concerns of policy makers, health care professionals and other experts. They have focused on reproductive health and, above all, women have been defined in terms of their childbearing role. Yet when women themselves are given a voice, a different set of issues emerges. The research reported here aimed to explore women's own concerns about their health and how they understand their health problems. The study was conducted in the Volta region of Ghana and it included interviews with 75 women of varying background. Almost three-quarters of the women reported 'thinking too much' and many also said that they had problems sleeping, suffered frequent headaches and often felt unhappy or sad. They explain these psycho-social health problems in terms of their social and material circumstances and one of the main themes women emphasised was their relationships with men. Relying on women's accounts, we trace the ways in which they conceptualised their health, seeing it as shaped by their lack of control over the conditions of their lives; gender relations define their responsibilities while at the same time withholding the control and resources they require in order to achieve a measure of economic independence and predictability.
Paper Title: Challenges in Enterprise Adoption of Agile Methods -a Survey

Agile methods are a departure from plan-driven traditional approaches, where the focus is on generating early releases of working software using collaborative techniques, code refactoring, and on-site customer involvement. Research and surveys have shown that agile methodologies are an efficient way of producing software with significant advantages in production costs, time-to-market, complexity, and quality improvement over heavyweight traditional methodologies. Even with such apparent advantages the information technology industry has not seen large-scale adoption of agile methods. In this survey paper, the major challenges in adopting agile practices by enterprises are addressed. Drawing information from the literature issues like framework for agile organizational change and adoption strategies are examined. Inputs from the industry suggest that most organizations are best suited in adopting a combination of traditional and agile method. There is no agile methodology that can be universally applied and have to be tailored to integrate into existing processes. It is an excellent research article that represents a critical survey on Agile Methods and the challenges facing adopting them universally by the Software Industry. I wished only if the author(s) can make some distinctions between the various Agile Methods (e.g. XP,Scrum,FDD,DSDM) and classify different degrees of challenges facing each one of them in producing realizable models of software (e.g. MDA). Possibly in a form of a table. Reviewer nr.2 comment: The authors have made a survey of the challenges in the adoption of Agile methods by enterprises. They list down a number of advantages in adopting agile practices such as Improved ROI, Cancelling failing projects at an early stage, higher software quality, improved controlled on projects and team cohesiveness. They list a number of difficulties by adopters of agile methods. According to Reifer there have been gains in productivity, reduction in costs, reduction in time to market and reduced defect rates. Moore's technology adoption lifecycle is expressed as a bell curve divided into five stages. There is chasm between the second stage of Early Adopters and Early Majority. Agile processes are currently in the Early Adopter zone. The authors list a number of
Transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo: possíveis subtipos

Several studies suggest that OCD is probably a heterogeneous disorder with several putative subtypes. Differences in treatment response, disease course, and clinical features are suggestive of the existence of subtypes with specific underlying pathophysiological substrates. Whether studying OCD from a phenomenological or genetic standpoint phenotypic characterization becomes crucial. This manuscript summarizes data that support the existence of a subgroup of OCD related to tics, a group with an early age onset; a possible subgroup related to rheumatic fever; and a group with poor insight. Validation of these putative subtypes may be possible with genetic family studies and will contribute to the development of more specific treatments.
Estimating Within-School Contact Networks to Understand Influenza Transmission

Many epidemic models approximate social contact behavior by assuming random mixing within mixing groups (e.g., homes, schools, and workplaces). The effect of more realistic social network structure on estimates of epidemic parameters is an open area of exploration. We develop a detailed statistical model to estimate the social contact network within a high school using friendship network data and a survey of contact behavior. Our contact network model includes classroom structure, longer durations of contacts to friends than non-friends and more frequent contacts with friends, based on reports in the contact survey. We performed simulation studies to explore which network structures are relevant to influenza transmission. These studies yield two key findings. First, we found that the friendship network structure important to the transmission process can be adequately represented by a dyad-independent exponential random graph model (ERGM). This means that individual-level sampled data is sufficient to characterize the entire friendship network. Second, we found that contact behavior was adequately represented by a static rather than dynamic contact network. We then compare a targeted antiviral prophylaxis intervention strategy and a grade closure intervention strategy under random mixing and network-based mixing. We find that random mixing overestimates the effect of targeted antiviral prophylaxis on the probability of an epidemic when the probability of transmission in 10 minutes of contact is less than 0.004 and underestimates it when this transmission probability is greater than 0.004. We found the same pattern for the final size of an epidemic, with a threshold transmission probability of 0.005. We also find random mixing overestimates the effect of a grade closure intervention on the probability of an epidemic and final size for all transmission probabilities. Our findings have implications for policy recommendations based on models assuming random mixing, and can inform further development of network-based models.
The Role of Regulatory Focus and Emotion Recognition Bias in Cross-Cultural Negotiation

Prior research on cross-cultural negotiation has emphasized the cognitive and the behavioral elements. This study takes a different perspective and presents a motivation–emotion model of cross-cultural negotiation. We propose that the cultural differences in chronic regulatory focus will lead to cultural biases in emotion recognition, which in turn will affect negotiation behaviors. People are inclined to perceive and behave in ways that enhance regulatory fit. Westerners and East Asians, who each have different chronic regulatory focus, are likely to interpret the negotiation situation differently in order to increase their regulatory fit. Specifically, this study proposes that when the emotion of the opponent is ambiguous, people from different cultural backgrounds may show cultural biases in emotion recognition, concentrating on the emotion that fits their chronic regulatory focus. Drawing on the Emotion as Social Information (EASI) model, this study discusses how these cultural biases in emotion recognition can affect people’s negotiation behaviors. Finally, some possible moderators of the motivation–emotion model including power and emotion recognition accuracy are suggested to promote sustainable practices in cross-cultural negotiation.
Interference and SINR in Millimeter Wave and Terahertz Communication Systems With Blocking and Directional Antennas

The fifth generation wireless systems are expected to rely on a large number of small cells to massively offload traffic from the cellular and even from the wireless local area networks. To enable this functionality, mm-wave (EHF) and Terahertz (THF) bands are being actively explored. These bands are characterized by unique propagation properties compared with microwave systems. As a result, the interference structure in these systems could be principally different to what we observed so far at lower frequencies. In this paper, using the tools of stochastic geometry, we study the systems operating in the EHF/THF bands by explicitly capturing three phenomena inherent for these frequencies: 1) high directivity of the transmit and receive antennas; 2) molecular absorption; and 3) blocking of high-frequency radiation. We also define and compare two different antenna radiation pattern models. The metrics of interest are the mean interference and the signal-to-interference-plus-noise (SINR) ratio at the receiver. Our results reveal that: 1) for the same total emitted energy by a Poisson field of interferers, both the interference and SINR significantly increase when simultaneously both transmit and receive antennas are directive and 2) blocking has a profound impact on the interference and SINR creating much more favorable conditions for communications compared with no blocking case.
Use Case, Goal, and Scenario Analysis of the Euronet System : Comparing Methods and Results

In this paper, we compare the results of three related requirements engineering efforts: an industrial requirements specification produced with a use case based process, a case study analyzing those use cases by means of goal analysis; and a second case study analyzing the original use cases with an integrated scenario analysis and management approach and software tool support. The scenario-based analysis proved more effective than either of the other two approaches. The results provide validation for both the integrated scenario analysis and the software tool.
A Battery-Assisted Sensor-Enhanced RFID Tag Enabling Heterogeneous Wireless Sensor Networks

This paper presents the design, realization, and experimental validation of a battery-assisted radio frequency identification (RFID) tag with sensing and computing capabilities conceived to explore heterogeneous RFID-based sensor network applications. The tag (hereafter called mote) features an ultra-low-power ferroelectric random-access-memory microcontroller, a LED, temperature and light sensors, three-axis accelerometer, non-volatile storage, and a new-generation I2C-RFID chip for communication with standard UHF EPCglobal Class-1 Generation-2 readers. A preliminary RFID mote prototype, fabricated on a printed circuit board using low-cost discrete components and equipped with a small 225-mAh coin battery, provides an estimated lifetime of 3 years when sensing and computing tasks are performed every 30 s. In addition, the reliable RFID communication range up to 22 m achieved in an indoor scenario represents, to the best of our knowledge, the longest distance ever reported for similar sensor-enhanced RFID tags.
HEALTH SCREENING OF FOUR‐YEAR‐OLDS IN A SWEDISH COUNTY

ABSTRACT: Sundelin, C. and Vuille, J.‐C. (Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden and the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland). Health screening of four‐year‐olds in a Swedish county I. Organization, methods and participation. Acta Paediatr Scand, 64: 795, 1975–Since January 1969, a systematic health screening has been offered to 4‐year‐olds resident in the county of Uppsala, Sweden, at the ordinary Child Health Centres by the regular staff. This report describes some organizational and methodological aspects and presents participation rates and reasons for non‐participation. From the overall experience it is concluded that the program is feasible with respect to systematic examinations and data collection, acceptance by the public and the staff, and with respect to the strain on existing resources. The reasons for and the importance of program changes are discussed, and the main advantages and drawbacks of the decentralized approach are mentioned. Finally, a theoretical framework for a quantitative evaluation of effectiveness is presented.
The long-term outcomes from a randomized controlled trial of an educational–behavioural joint protection programme for people with rheumatoid arthritis

Objective: To evaluate the long-term effects of joint protection on health status of people with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Design: A four-year follow-up of a randomized, controlled, assessor-blinded trial was conducted. Setting: Two rheumatology outpatient departments. Participants: People with rheumatoid arthritis less than five years since diagnosis. Interventions: Two 8-hour interventions were originally compared: a standard arthritis education programme, including 21/2 hours of joint protection based on typical UK occupational therapy practice (plus 51/2 hours on RA, exercise, pain management, diet and foot care); and a joint protection programme, using educational-behavioural training. Main measures: Adherence to joint protection, pain, hand pain on activity, Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales 2 and Arthritis Self-efficacy were recorded at 0 and 4 years. Results: Sixty-five people attended the joint protection and 62 the standard programmes. Groups at entry were similar in age (51 years; 49 years), disease duration (21 months: 17.5 months) and use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory and disease-modifying drugs. At four years, the joint protection group continued to have significantly better: joint protection adherence (p=0.001); early morning stiffness (p=0.01); AIMS2 activities of daily living (ADL) scores (p=0.04) compared with the standard group. The joint protection group also had significantly fewer hand deformities: metacarpophalangeal (MCP) (p=0.02) and wrist joints (p=0.04). Conclusion: Attending an educational=behavioural joint protection programme significantly improves joint protection adherence and maintains functional ability long term. This approach is more effective than standard methods of training and should be more widely adopted.
Validation of a New Simple Scale to Measure Symptoms in Atrial Fibrillation: The Canadian Cardiovascular Society Severity in Atrial Fibrillation Scale

Background—Atrial fibrillation (AF) is commonly associated with impaired quality of life. There is no simple validated scale to quantify the functional illness burden of AF. The Canadian Cardiovascular Society Severity in Atrial Fibrillation (CCS-SAF) scale is a bedside scale that ranges from class 0 to 4, from no effect on functional quality of life to a severe effect on life quality. This study was performed to validate the scale. Methods and Results—In 484 patients with documented AF (62.2±12.5 years of age, 67% men; 62% paroxysmal and 38% persistent/permanent), the SAF class was assessed and 2 validated quality-of-life questionnaires were administered: the SF-36 generic scale and the disease-specific AFSS (University of Toronto Atrial Fibrillation Severity Scale). There is a significant linear graded correlation between the SAF class and measures of symptom severity, physical and emotional components of quality of life, general well-being, and health care consumption related to AF. Patients with SAF class 0 had age- and sex-standardized SF-36 scores of 0.15±0.16 and −0.04±0.31 (SD units), that is, units away from the mean population score for the mental and physical summary scores, respectively. For each unit increase in SAF class, there is a 0.36 and 0.40 SD unit decrease in the SF-36 score for the physical and mental components. As the SAF class increases from 0 to 4, the symptom severity score (range, 0 to 35) increases from 4.2±5.0 to 18.4±7.8 (P<0.0001). Conclusions—The CCS-SAF scale is a simple semiquantitative scale that closely approximates patient-reported subjective measures of quality of life in AF and may be practical for clinical use.
Lesion topographies in multiple sclerosis diagnosis

Objectives: To assess the contributions of cortico-juxtacortical and corpus callosum lesions to multiple sclerosis diagnosis and to compare the value of ≥1 vs ≥3 periventricular lesions in clinically isolated syndromes (CIS). Methods: Step 1: We evaluated lesion topography classifications in 657 patients with CIS with stepwise Cox proportional hazards regression models considering second attack as the outcome. Step 2: We established 2 dissemination in space (DIS) versions according to the periventricular lesion cutoffs of ≥1 and ≥3 and assessed their performance at 10 years with second attack as the outcome, first individually and then combined with dissemination in time (DIT) in all cases (n = 326), by age, and by CIS topography. Results: Step 1: The models (hazard ratios [95% confidence interval]) favored ≥1 over ≥3 periventricular lesions (2.5 [1.7–3.6]) and cortico-juxtacortical over juxtacortical lesions (1.4 [1.0–1.8]). Callosal lesions were not selected. Step 2: DIS specificity with ≥1 periventricular lesions was slightly lower than with ≥3 (59.1 vs 61.4) and the same after adding DIT (88.6). Regarding age, ≥3 periventricular lesions improved DIS specificity over ≥1 lesions in the 40–49 years of age bracket (66.7 vs 58.3). This difference disappeared when adding DIT (83.3). Optic neuritis had a similar pattern when evaluating CIS topographies. Conclusions: Our results comply with the Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis (MAGNIMS) consensus recommendation of combining cortical and juxtacortical lesions into a single term when possible. Concerning periventricular lesions, maintaining the current ≥1 cutoff in the McDonald criteria does not compromise specificity in typical CIS cases, but attention should be paid to older patients or optic neuritis cases.
Transition Mechanisms and Phases o f Hexane Physisorbed on Graphite

We present the results of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of hexane adsorbed onto graphite at submono- layer (ρ 1) coverages. We find the presence of three phases, the low temperature solid herringbone (HB) phase, the inter- mediate-nematic (IN) phase, and the isotropic fluid phase. For submonolayer coverages, we find that the IN phase disappears except for coverages very close to completion, however, for ρ>1 we find an augmented IN phase with most molecules rolled normal to the substrate. We also observe for ρ<1 the presence of fluid-filled domain walls when taking the tetrahedral symmetry of the endgroups into account. Through variations we study the formation of gauche molecules and conclude that both phase transitions observed exhibit much out-of-plane tilting, with only a small presence of conformation changes near the melting transition. We conclude that in-plane space plays an important role in the phases and transitions in this system.