Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Voting with Their Feet: Jobs versus Amenities

The determinants of rural and urban community population change over the period 1991-2001 are investigated at a very fine level of disaggregation for Canada. The study examines the influence of local amenities, economic factors, and agglomeration economies on population growth for age cohorts starting from the very young to the elderly. Motivated by the objective of assessing the overall jobs versus people question in economic development, the emphasis is on estimating the relative contribution of groupings of variables in explaining the variations in population change rather than the contribution of individual variables. Results indicate that rural and urban populations are influenced to differing degrees by amenity, economic, and urban scale groupings of variables and that there are variations among age cohorts in both urban and rural areas. While economic variables are the most influential in population change for all rural cohorts, their contribution somewhat diminishes with age. In urban areas, amenity, and economic variable groupings have approximately equal importance across all cohorts. For the key young adult cohort, the economic grouping is clearly the most influential in rural areas, while it is a close second to amenities in urban areas. Copyright 2007 Blackwell Publishing.
Face liveness detection using analysis of Fourier spectra based on hair

The existing face liveness detection algorithms have satisfying performance on spoofing photos by detecting the biological motion, including eye blinking, head rotation and mouth movement. However, the biological motions can be simulated by using video, which is called a video playback attack. This paper proposes a countermeasure to a video playback attack by analyzing the detail of hair using the Fourier spectra. We apply a flashlight to enhance the difference between the real person and the video playback attack. Experimental results suggest that the proposed method has an encouraging performance on face liveness detection.
Formal Criteria for Investment Decisions

T His paper attempts to solve certain remaining problems in the theory of optimal investment decisions. It is a formal analysis designed to clarify certain matters on which discussion has remained confused and confusing, without regard to potential practical importance. The problems to be discussed concern ambiguities and paradoxes connected with the criterion of marginal productivity or rate of return, especially in cases in which the receipts stream of an investment extends over more than two periods. The literature on this subject and present knowledge of it have been summarized by J. Hirshleifer in his recent article, which contains a definitive analysis of the two-period case. ' Hirshleifer's analysis is not sufficient to solve the multiperiod case in full generality, since it does not deal adequately with multiperiod investment opportunities. However, since his analysis is applicable as far as it goes, it is useful to review his main conclusions and their direct corollaries. First, when an investment lasts for only two periods-that is, when it is entirely disinvested in the second period-its marginal productivity or rate of return is unambiguously defined. Rates of return may therefore be used to rank different possible two-period investments. Second, if unlimited borrowing and lending are possible at a given rate of interest, the investor should undertake all investments that have a positive present value at that rate of interest (that have a net product not less than that rate of interest), if all investments are independent. If there are mutually exclusive or interdependent investments, he should choose that investment portfolio that has the highest present value at the given rate of interest. In either case he should then borrow (or lend) the difference between his production plan and his consumption plan. Third, if unlimited borrowing and lending are not possible at a given rate of interest, the investor's investment and borrowing-lending opportunities can be combined into an over-all opportunity set (in a system of co-ordinates in which one axis represents first-period consumption and the other represents secondperiod consumption). He should select the point in this set that touches his highest indifference curve. In this case the ranking of investments by their productivity or rate of return is an integral part of the construction of the production-opportunity curve (in the case in which there is no borrowing or lending, this is also the over-all opportunity curve). However, the indiscriminate use of either the rate-of-return criterion or the present-value criterion, as these are ordinarily understood, for determining which investments are selected could in some cases give wrong answers. In the ranking process, mutually exclusive or interdependent investment opportunities give rise to multiple production-opportunity curves; but these have an envelope, which is the interesting curve. These last points are discussed further below. l "On the Theory of Optimal Investment Decision," Journal of Political Economy, LXVI (August, 1958), 329-52.
Performance Evaluation of Dynamic Cell Allocation Cache Using Cycle Accurate Simulator

Multi-core processors are widely used to improve performance of computer systems. To achieve both high performance and low power consumption, we propose Cell-allocation cache. It allocates cache spaces called 'Cell' which is smaller than a way and dynamically assigns it to a core. However, it is only evaluated with trace-driven simulation, so evaluations of execution speed and energy consumption in realistic environments are not presented. In this paper, we implement Cell-allocation cache on the cycle accurate simulator Gem5 and evaluates more detailed performance. We also propose evaluation methodology by mixing plural benchmark programs to evaluate performance under unbalanced load works.
International market success among smaller agri-food companies : Some case study evidence

Purpose – The paper aims to explore the relevance of key marketing concepts, including market orientation, marketing competencies and resources, and competitive marketing strategies, in explaining international market success among smaller agri‐food companies.Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents a multi‐case research, involving five small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs), from different agri‐food sub‐sectors. The research employed a semi‐structured interview guide, and subjected the generated data to meaning‐oriented content analysis procedure.Findings – Evidence points to the influential impact of adopting a marketing orientation; developing advantage‐generating competencies in the product, channel and relationship management areas; leveraging strategically‐relevant managerial, production and brand/reputational resources; and deploying appropriate competitive marketing strategies.Research limitations/implications – Limitations and implications of the research generally relate to the use of .
Efficacy of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplementation for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer cycles: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplementation might hold some promise in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer cycles. However, the results remain controversial. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of DHEA in patients for in vitro fertilization. PubMed, EMbase, Web of science, EBSCO and Cochrane library databases were systematically searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of DHEA versus placebo on in vitro fertilization were included. Two investigators independently searched articles, extracted data and assessed the quality of included studies. The primary outcomes were clinical pregnancy and live birth rate. Meta-analysis was performed using random-effect model. Six RCTs involving 745 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, compared with placebo, DHEA supplementation was associated with the significant increase in clinical pregnancy (OR = 1.45; 95% CI = 1.04–2.03; p = .03), live birth rate (OR = 2.70; 95% CI = 1.24–5.85; p = .01) and endometrial thickness (Std. mean difference = 0.67; 95% CI = 0.02–1.32; p = .04) but showed no influence on E2 on hCG day (Std. mean difference = 0.69; 95% CI = −0.46 to 1.85; p = .24), embryos transferred (Std. mean difference = 0.42; 95% CI = −0.04 to 0.88; p = .07) and miscarriage rate (OR = 0.43; 95% CI = 0.03–6.66; p = .55). DHEA supplementation could significantly improve clinical pregnancy, live birth rate, endometrial thickness and retrieved oocytes but failed to alter E2 on hCG day, embryos transferred and miscarriage rate.
Combining Time Series Analysis and Multi Criteria Decision Making Techniques for Forecasting Financial Performance of Banks in Turkey

Forecasting plays a major role in financial planning and it is an essential analytical tool in banks’ strategies. In recent years, researchers are developing new techniques for estimation. Financial performance evaluation of banks is a kind of multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) problem which has developed rapidly. It is very important for a firm to monitor a wide range of performance indicators in order to ensure that appropriate and timely decisions and plans can be made. Suitable performance measures can ensure that managers adopt a long-term perspective and allocate the company’s resources to the most effective activities. The aim of this study is to evaluate the financial performance model of Turkish Banks during 2012-2015 using forecasting (based on 2002-2011 data) methods and multi criteria decision techniques. As forecasting analysis tools, classical time series methods such as moving averages, exponential smoothing, Brown's single parameter linear exponential smoothing, Brown’s second-order exponential smoothing, Holt's two parameter linear exponential smoothing and decomposition methods applied to financial ratios data. After forecasting techniques Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) methodologies are used for the outranking of banks. This model is applied to a case study for the financial performance evaluation of 3 state banks (Ziraat Bank, Halk Bank and Vakiflar Bank); 9 private banks (Akbank; Anadolubank; Sekerbank; Tekstil Bank; Turkish Bank; Turk Ekonomi Bank; Garanti Bank; Is Bank and Yapi Kredi Bank) and 5 foreign banks (Denizbank; Eurobank Tekfen; Finans Bank; HSBC Bank and ING Bank) in Turkey. Financial performances of a bank is divided into ten groups including Capital Ratios, Balance Sheet Ratios, Assets Quality, Liquidity, Profitability, Income-Expenditure Structure, Share in Sector, Share in Group, Branch Ratios and Activity Ratios as described by the Banks Association of Turkey.
Environmental Impact of Public Charging Facilities for Electric Two‐Wheelers

The environmental characterization of the charging infrastructure required to operate electric vehicles (EVs) is usually overlooked in the literature. Only rudimentary life cycle inventories of EV charging facilities are available. This lack of information is especially noticeable in environmental studies of the environmental performance of electric two‐wheelers (E2Ws), none of which have included an analysis of charging facilities, even though they constitute the most successful electric‐drive market in the world. This article focuses on characterizing the life cycle of the global warming potential (GWP) and primary energy demand (PED) of two conventional charging facility designs that are widely implemented for charging E2Ws in public spaces. The relative environmental relevance of charging facilities per kilowatt‐hour (kWh) supplied to E2Ws is determined by considering a range of use scenarios (variability in the service ratio) and the effect of upgrading the electricity mix to include more renewable energy sources. Savings of over 3 metric tons (tonnes) of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions and 56 equivalent gigajoules can be achieved by implementing an optimized charging facility design. The internalization of the relative environmental burden from the charging facility per kWh supplied to E2Ws can increase the GWP of E2Ws’ use phase from 1% to 20% and the PED from 1% to 13%. Although the article focuses on one particular case scenario, the research is intended to provide complementary criteria for further research on the life cycle management of electric mobility systems. Thus, a series of factors that can influence the environmental performance of EV charging networks at the macro scale are discussed.
What is the joint effect of employee satisfaction and customer orientation on the organizational culture in metalworking manufacturing?

It is a known fact that culture is an important element for the organizations. In this context, a research has been carried out in which the main subject is about to investigate the organizational culture depending on the factors of employee satisfaction and customer orientation in metalworking manufacturing firms. To perform the study, we constructed an original model and conducted research with 578 employees of metalworking organizations. After the data analysis, we determined that organizational culture has positive-significant correlation with employee satisfaction and customer orientation (at the 0.000 level). Additionally, the total explained variance of organizational culture – depending on employee satisfaction and customer orientation – has come out as a satisfying value (0.53). According to the results of our research, we are able to conclude that employee satisfaction and customer orientation has a mid-level effect on creating a substantial organizational culture.
Target-specific oral anticoagulants and the hospitalist

Abstract As a class, the target-specific oral anticoagulants (TSOACs) are at least as effective as warfarin, often with superior safety for the prevention of stroke in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) and the treatment of acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) and prevention of recurrent VTE. Currently, dabigatran, the direct thrombin inhibitor, along with rivaroxaban and apixaban, direct factor Xa inhibitors, has been approved in multiple countries for these indications. Edoxaban, which has received approval for the abovementioned indications in Japan, has demonstrated efficacy and safety comparable to or better than warfarin in Phase III clinical trials and is under further regulatory consideration. It is anticipated that the use of TSOACs will increase as practitioners and healthcare systems gain familiarity with these drugs and adopt their use into clinical practice. This review will provide a brief overview of the TSOAC Phase III clinical trials for prevention of stroke and systemic embolic events in patients with AF and the Phase III clinical trials for the prevention of recurrent VTE, discuss current treatment guidelines, address how TSOACs may help meet national safety goals, and provide clinical decision-making guidance regarding the use of TSOACs for hospitalists.
A social-event based approach to sentiment analysis of identities and behaviors in text

ABSTRACT We describe a new methodology to infer sentiments held toward identities and behaviors from social events that we extract from a large corpus of newspaper text. Our approach draws on affect control theory, a mathematical model of how sentiment is encoded in social events and culturally shared views toward identities and behaviors. While most sentiment analysis approaches evaluate concepts on a single, evaluative dimension, our work extracts a three-dimensional sentiment “profile” for each concept. We can also infer when multiple sentiment profiles for a concept are likely to exist. We provide a case study of a large newspaper corpus on the Arab Spring, which helps to validate our approach.
The impact of the biomass energy use on CO2 emissions: A Panel data model for 15 countries

Biomass energy is a double-edged sword. There are two theories of the relationship between biomass and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Proponents of the first theory predict that biomass is carbon neutral, so that its use reduces CO2 emissions. Supporters of the second theory argue that biomass can be harmful to the environment by emitting a significant amount of carbon. In this context, the current analysis investigates the relationship between biomass and carbon emissions for 15 countries during the period 1991-2011. This study uses one proxy of carbon emissions, namely (CO2) and one proxy of biomass use, namely electricity generation produced from biomass and waste energy (BIO). Using the Panel data model, the results showed that the biomass reduces the CO2 emissions and has a positive role in the reduction of the carbon. The researches also concluded that there is non-linear relationship between the level of growth expressed by the real gross domestic product (GDP) and the C02. Finally, the population is positively correlated with the CO2 emissions.
Spatiotemporal Colorization of Video Using 3D Steerable Pyramids

We propose a new technique for video colorization based on spatiotemporal color propagation in the 3D video volume, utilizing the dominant orientation response obtained from the steerable pyramid decomposition of the video. The volumetric color diffusion from the sources that are marked by scribbles occurs across spatiotemporally smooth regions, and the prevention of leakage is facilitated by the spatiotemporal discontinuities in the output of steerable filters, representing the object boundaries and motion boundaries. Unlike most existing methods, our approach dispenses with the need of motion vectors for interframe color transfer and provides a general framework for image and video colorization. The experimental results establish the effectiveness of the proposed approach in colorizing videos having different types of motion and visual content even in the presence of occlusion, in terms of accuracy and computational requirements.
Color space distortions in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Color vision impairment was examined in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) without retinopathy. We assessed the type and degree of distortions of individual color spaces. DM2 patients (n = 32), and age-matched controls (n = 20) were tested using the Farnsworth D-15 and the Lanthony D-15d tests. In addition, subsets of caps from both tests were employed in a triadic procedure (Bimler & Kirkland, 2004). Matrices of inter-cap subjective dissimilarities were estimated from each subject's “odd-one-out” choices, and processed using non-metric multidimensional scaling. Two-dimensional color spaces, individual and group (DM2 patients; controls), were reconstructed, with the axes interpreted as the R/G and B/Y perceptual opponent systems. Compared to controls, patient results were not significant for the D-15 and D-15d. In contrast, in the triadic procedure the residual distances were significantly different compared to controls: right eye, P = 0.021, and left eye, P = 0.022. Color space configurations for the DM2 patients were compressed along the B/Y and R/G dimensions. The present findings agree with earlier studies demonstrating diffuse losses in early stages of DM2. The proposed method of testing uses color spaces to represent discrimination and provides more differentiated quantitative diagnosis, which may be interpreted as the perceptual color system affected. In addition, it enables the detection of very mild color vision impairment that is not captured by the D-15d test. Along with fundoscopy, individual color spaces may serve for monitoring early functional changes and thereby to support a treatment strategy.
Unique Mechanisms of Sheng Yu Decoction (聖愈湯 Shèng Yù Tang) on Ischemic Stroke Mice Revealed by an Integrated Neurofunctional and Transcriptome Analysis

Sheng Yu Decoction (聖愈湯 Shèng Yù Tang; SYD) is a popular traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) remedy used in treating cardiovascular and brain-related dysfunction clinically; yet, its neuroprotective mechanisms are still unclear. Here, mice were subjected to an acute ischemic stroke to examine the efficacy and mechanisms of action of SYD by an integrated neurofunctional and transcriptome analysis. More than 80% of the mice died within 2 days after ischemic stroke with vehicle treatment. Treatments with SYD (1.0 g/kg, twice daily, orally or p.o.) and recombinant thrombolytic tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA; 10 mg/kg, once daily, intravenously or i.v.) both significantly extended the lifespan as compared to that of the vehicle-treated stroke group. SYD successfully restored brain function, ameliorated cerebral infarction and oxidative stress, and significantly improved neurological deficits in mice with stroke. Molecular impact of SYD by a genome-wide transcriptome analysis using brains from stroke mice showed a total of 162 out of 2081 ischemia-induced probe sets were significantly influenced by SYD. Mining the functional modules and genetic networks of these 162 genes revealed a significant upregulation of neuroprotective genes in Wnt receptor signaling pathway (3 genes) and regulation of cell communication (7 genes) and downregulation of destructive genes in response to stress (13 genes) and in the induction of inflammation (5 genes), cytokine production (4 genes), angiogenesis (3 genes), vasculature (6 genes) and blood vessel (5 genes) development, wound healing (7 genes), defense response (7 genes), chemotaxis (4 genes), immune response (7 genes), antigen processing and presenting (3 genes), and leukocyte-mediated cytotoxicity (2 genes) by SYD. Our results suggest that SYD could protect mice against ischemic stroke primarily through significantly downregulating the damaging genes involved in stress, inflammation, angiogenesis, blood vessel formation, immune responses, and wound healing, as well as upregulating the genes mediating neurogenesis and cell communication, which make SYD beneficial for treating ischemic stroke.
Socio-Economic & Political Institutions and their Impact on Non-Financial Performance Measurement: A Case Study

The institutional environment is defined as being characterized by the elaboration of rules and requirements to which individual organizations must conform if they are to receive support and legitimacy. National and transnational institutions pressure firms to change their Management Accounting (MA) practices to make them consistent and clear. Some argue that national institutions have preserved their role as important players in the organizational and societal fields in different countries. Some researchers, by contrast, demonstrate the decreasing importance of these institutional impacts for some contemporary reasons. The Banks/Financial Institutions (BFI) operate within the stronger influence of international institutions, such as the IMF and the World Bank. Furthermore, nowadays most world economies are directly or indirectly associated with some regional and trans-national institutions. In this study, Finland, Sweden and Japan are affected by the strongest regional institutions. Thus, the BFI in these countries can also be influenced by some regional institutions. However, the factors that decrease national institutional influence also exist in these countries. This study investigates the effect of these socio-economic and political institutions on nonfinancial MA measures in twelve BFI in Finland, Sweden and Japan within multiple exploratory case study principles. The results of this empirical study demonstrate the influence of socio-economic and political institutions on non-financial MA measures in BFI. That is, the effect of national, transnational and international socio-political and cultural institutions on non-financial MA measures is identified in a number of the studied BFI. According to the empirical evidence, some hypotheses are generated for further research.