Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A multifactor model of Philippine stock returns using latent macro risk factors

This study addresses the measurement problem inherent in using published macroeconomic data to proxy for unobservable macro risk factors. Using a structural equation modelling framework, four latent risk factors are identified in addition to the exchange rate and market timing risk factors. The latter two are proxied one-for-one by fluctuations in the nominal peso-dollar exchange rate and the excess return on the portfolio represented by the Phisix. Using transformations of published macroeconomic data as indicator variables, the measurement part of the model appears to capture the essence of the unobservable risk factors they are supposed to measure. Variables used as such are called manifest exogenous variables (see Maruyama, 1998 or Hair et al., 1998). The betas or factor loadings generated by the structural model indicate that fluctuations in the risk factors have significant effects on the time variation of stock returns. However, the effects are more pronounced after the onset of the Asian financial crisis than before. Tests of model fit do not reject the hypothesis that the returns are consistent with the six-factor model for the entire period covered by the study, although individual factors are priced only during the 1997–2001 sub-period.
Changing the game: The art of deceiving sophisticated attackers

The number and complexity of cyber-attacks has been increasing steadily in the last years. Adversaries are targeting the communications and information systems (CIS) of government, military and industrial organizations, as well as critical infrastructures, and are willing to spend large amounts of money, time and expertise on reaching their goals. In addition, recent sophisticated insider attacks resulted in the exfiltration of highly classified information to the public. Traditional security solutions have failed repeatedly to mitigate such threats. In order to defend against such sophisticated adversaries we need to redesign our defences, developing technologies focused more on detection than prevention. In this paper, we address the attack potential of advanced persistent threats (APT) and malicious insiders, highlighting the common characteristics of these two groups. In addition, we propose the use of multiple deception techniques, which can be used to protect both the external and internal resources of an organization and significantly increase the possibility of early detection of sophisticated attackers.
The geography of metropolitan opportunity: A reconnaissance and conceptual framework

Abstract We present a conceptual framework for metropolitan opportunity and a model of individual decision making about issues affecting youth's future socioeco‐nomic status. Decision making and its geographic context have objective and subjective aspects. Objective spatial variations occur in the metropolitan opportunity structure—social systems, markets, and institutions that aid upward mobility. Decisions are based on the decision‐maker's values, aspirations, preferences, and subjective perceptions of possible outcomes, which are all shaped by the local social network (e.g., kin, neighbors, and friends). We also review the psychological literature on decision making. We hypothesize that the decision‐making method varies with the range of opportunities considered: Those with fewer options adopt a less considered method wherein mistakes and short‐term focus are more likely. Our review also finds empirical evidence that the local social network has an important effect on youth's decisions regarding educat.
Is small firm gardening good for local economic growth?

Based on panel data for the manufacturing and retail industries in a sample of 2645 US counties spanning the last two decades of the twentieth century, we find that firm size matters for industry growth. Contrary to previous research, our results suggest that there is a positive linkage between the average size of manufacturing and retail firms on the one hand and industry growth on the other. Our results are consistent with a Schumpeterian growth model, where bigger firms are needed to carry out effective Research and Development, leading to higher growth. The results, therefore, do not support the idea of small firm gardening as a local development strategy.
Oesophageal bolus transit and clearance by secondary peristalsis in normal individuals

Background Secondary peristalsis is important for the clearance of retained refluxate or material from the oesophagus. Combined impedance and manometry can directly detect both oesophageal contraction and bolus transit. Aim To apply combined impedance and manometry to characterize oesophageal bolus transit and clearance by secondary peristalsis in healthy individuals. Methods Eleven healthy volunteers underwent combined impedance and manometry with a catheter containing seven impedance-measuring segments and eight water-perfusion pressure transducers. Saline and solid agar boluses of 5 ml were applied for primary peristalsis and secondary peristalsis was stimulated by rapid mid-oesophageal injections of saline. Results The rate for complete bolus clearance of secondary peristalsis with saline injections was less than that of primary peristalsis with saline swallows (69 vs. 95%, P=0.02). No statistical difference in bolus propagation time between primary and secondary peristalsis was observed (P=0.45). Bolus presence time of secondary peristalsis was significantly longer than that of primary peristalsis for all impedance-measuring segments (all P<0.05). Solid swallows differed from saline swallows with lower rate of complete bolus transit and longer bolus transit time. Conclusion Our data show that the impedance technique can successfully characterize oesophageal bolus transit and clearance by secondary peristalsis. These findings suggest that secondary peristalsis may be less effective than primary peristalsis regarding oesophageal transit and clearance of a liquid bolus.
Interactions between human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and human cytomegalovirus in human term syncytiotrophoblast cells coinfected with both viruses

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) may interact in the pathogenesis of AIDS. The placental syncytiotrophoblast layer serves as the first line of defense of the fetus against viruses. We analyzed the patterns of replication of HIV-1 and HCMV in singly an dually infected human term syncytiotrophoblast cells cultured in vitro. Syncytiotrophoblast cells exhibited restricted permissiveness for HIV-1, while HCMV replication was restricted at the level of immediate-early and early gene products in the singly infected cells. We found that the syncytiotrophoblasts as an overlapping cell population could be coinfected with HIV-1 and HCMV. HIV-1 replication was markedly upregulated by previous or simultaneous infection of the cells with HCMV, whereas prior HIV-1 infection of the cells converted HCMV infection from a nonpermissive to a permissive one. No simultaneous enhancement of HCMV and HIV-1 expression was observed in the dually infected cell cultures. Major immediate-early proteins of HCMV were necessary for enhancement of HIV-1 replication, and interleukin-6 production induced by HCMV and further increased by replicating HIV-1 synergized with these proteins to produce this effect. Permissive replication cycle of HCMV was induced by the HIV-1 tat gene product. We were unable to detect HIV-1 (HCMV) or HCMV (HIV-1) pseudotypes in supernatant fluids from dually infected cell cultures. Our results suggest that interactions between HIV-1 and HCMV in coinfected syncytiotrophoblast cells may contribute to the transplacental transmission of both viruses.
DISTRIBUTIONAL EFFECTS OF U.S. FARM COMMODITY PROGRAMS: ACCOUNTING FOR FARM AND NON-FARM HOUSEHOLDS

Using a highly disaggregated U.S. Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model, we analyze the distributional impacts from the commodity programs governed by the 2002 Farm Act on U.S. farm and non-farm households. The farm household impacts occur through program effects on household income, farm sector output and commodity prices. Non-farm household impacts occur through taxes and the cost of food.
Identification and Attenuation of Barriers to Entrepreneurship

Results are reported from a Latino immigrant entrepreneur needs assessment survey. The research project was conducted to identify barriers to business formation and continuation within the target population. A total of 171 surveys representing more than 200 businesses from 39 communities in 21 counties in western Arkansas were collected. Nearly 42% of respondents cited start-up capital as their biggest barrier with another 15% naming it as the second biggest barrier. Understanding government regulations and tax information rated as the second biggest barrier that Latinos encountered. This barrier is more pronounced in rural areas than in urban areas. Other top concerns include advertising, location, and obtaining licenses and permits. A closer examination of barriers finds nuanced differences between rural and urban entrepreneurs. Outreach programs and materials developed in response to research findings are presented.
Adaptive Learning, Persistence, and Optimal Monetary Policy

We show that, when private sector expectations are determined in line with adaptive learning, optimal policy responds persistently to cost-push shocks. The optimal response is stronger and more persistent, the higher is the initial level of perceived inflation persistence by the private sector. Such a sophisticated policy reduces inflation persistence and inflation volatility at little cost in terms of output gap volatility. Persistent responses to cost-push shocks and stability of inflation expectations resemble optimal policy under commitment and rational expectations. Nevertheless, it is clear that the mechanism at play is very different. In the case of commitment it relies on expectations of future policy actions affecting inflation expectations; in the case of sophisticated central banking it relies on the reduction in the estimated inflation persistence parameter based on inflation data generated by shocks and policy responses.
A suppression method of second order mode spurious responses for boundary acoustic wave filters

In this paper, we describe a suppression method of spurious responses for boundary acoustic wave filters, which employ a shear-horizontal type boundary acoustic wave in SiN/SiO2/electrodes/LiNbO3 structure. In this structure, the second order mode of boundary acoustic wave is excited strongly and causes a spurious response which deteriorates out-of-band attenuation. We studied the excitation mechanism of the second order mode and found that the intensity of the second order mode depends highly on the relation between the acoustic velocity of the second order mode and the fast shear bulk wave velocity of LiNbO3. Moreover, we found that the change of the propagation direction from the X-axis on rotated V-cut LiNbO3 makes the fast shear bulk wave velocity lower. As a combination of these results, a new suppression method of the spurious responses was proposed. Using this method, a boundary acoustic wave filter without spurious responses was successfully realized.
Evaluation of Plasmodium vivax genotyping markers for molecular monitoring in clinical trials.

BACKGROUND Many antimalarial interventions are accompanied by molecular monitoring of parasite infections, and a number of molecular typing techniques based on different polymorphic marker genes are used. Here, we describe a genotyping technique that provides a fast and precise approach to study Plasmodium vivax infection dynamics during circumstances in which individual clones must be followed over time. The method was tested with samples from an in vivo drug efficacy study. METHODS The sizes of polymerase chain reaction fragments were evaluated by capillary electrophoresis to determine the extent of size polymorphism for 9 potential genetic markers (5 genes of merozoite surface proteins [msp] and 4 microsatellites) in 93-108 P. vivax-positive blood samples from 3 villages in Papua New Guinea. RESULTS The microsatellites MS16 and Pv3.27 showed the greatest diversity in the study area, with 66 and 31 different alleles, respectively, followed by 2 fragments of msp1 and 2 other microsatellites. msp3alpha, msp4, and msp5 revealed limited polymorphism. CONCLUSIONS Even for the most diverse markers, the highest allelic frequencies reached 6% (MS16) or 13% (Pv3.27). To reduce the theoretical probability of superinfection with parasites that have the same haplotype as that detected at baseline, we propose to combine at least 2 markers for genotyping individual P. vivax infections.
Executive Compensation Structure and Corporate Equity Financing Decisions

Extending Myers and Majluf's (1984) model, we propose the market response to seasoned equity offering (SEO) announcements depends on the alignment of goals of managers and existing shareholders. We document a negative relation between the stock-market response to SEO announcements and issuing firm managers' equity-based compensation (EC). Relative to low-EC managers, the market perceives high-EC managers as issuing more-overvalued equity, benefiting existing shareholders and exacerbating the adverse selection problem for potential shareholders. We find EC and the market reaction to SEOs varies cross-sectionally with information asymmetry, investment opportunities, preissue stock-price run-up, and managerial ownership.
A CROSS-MODEL COMPARISON OF GLOBAL LONG-TERM TECHNOLOGY DIFFUSION UNDER A 2°C CLIMATE CHANGE CONTROL TARGET

We investigate the long-term global energy technology diffusion patterns required to reach a stringent climate change target with a maximum average atmospheric temperature increase of 2°C. If the anthropogenic temperature increase is to be limited to 2°C, total CO2 emissions have to be reduced massively, so as to reach substantial negative values during the second half of the century. Particularly power sector CO2 emissions should become negative from around 2050 onwards according to most models used for this analysis in order to compensate for GHG emissions in other sectors where abatement is more costly. The annual additional capacity deployment intensity (expressed in GW/yr) for solar and wind energy until 2030 needs to be around that recently observed for coal-based power plants, and will have to be several times higher in the period 2030–2050. Relatively high agreement exists across models in terms of the aggregated low-carbon energy system cost requirements on the supply side until 2050, which amount to about 50 trillion US$.
Deep Features for Person Re-identification

Matching observations captured by pedestrian detectors across the cameras with non-overlapping views, known as person re-identification, is challenging due to the appearance changes caused by pose, viewpoint and illumination variations, occlusions and cluttered background. Different from various hand-crafted features, this paper extract the features through the fine-tuned deep convolutional neural network to measure the similarities between the observations. Our approach significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art methods on the publicly available CUHK03 dataset.
Implementing Small Group Health Insurance Reform

This study analyzes administrative impediments to enrollment in HEALTHpact, a high-deductible plan with premiums capped at 10% of the average Rhode Island wage. HEALTHpact includes an opportunity for enrollees to reduce their deductibles from $5,000 ($10,000 for a family) to $750 ($1,500 for a family) if they engage in prespecified wellness behaviors. A stakeholder panel was convened to develop guidelines for insurers, which, in turn, were required to develop products satisfying those guidelines. Implementation was examined using stakeholder interviews and archival documents. Results indicate that since no funds were allocated for education and monitoring, there was little opportunity to promote “bottom up” demand or to oversee insurers. They also indicate that both insurers and brokers adopted strategies that inhibited take-up. Providing the resources necessary for effective government oversight and outreach will be critical to small group market reform nationally. So too will be promoting broker and insurer buy-in.
Applications of computing with words in medicine: Promises and potential

Computing with Words (CW) is a concept which solves problems when input is provided in form of natural language. CW is at its initial stages and is not at its full potential Medicine is a pivotal field and CW has barely been explored here. This paper concentrates on how to use CW methods to overcome challenging problems in medicine. It especially focuses on finding a solution to help Dementia affected people whose symptoms are not curable. The latter part lists down some more ways in which CW can affect areas in medicine.
An equivalence checker for hardware-dependent embedded system software

This paper presents a novel approach to formally prove the equivalence of low-level hardware-dependent programs. Inspired by hardware verification techniques, a software miter is created that compares the behaviors of two programs, taking into account the interfaces between the software and the hardware environments. Two programs are considered equivalent if they produce the same outputs for the same input assignments and also exhibit the same sequences of interactions with the relevant hardware peripherals. This motivates a hardware-dependent computational model combining a path-oriented program view, as is common in hardware-independent software verification, with a structural hardware representation of the program's computation. Experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed technique for industrial low-level software in important equivalence checking scenarios such as code porting and automated/manual code transformations.
A Model of Heterogeneous Multicategory Choice for Market Basket Analysis

Abstract Based on market basket data, using multicategory purchase incidence models, we analyze demand interdependencies between product categories. We propose a finite mixture multivariate logit model to derive segment-specific intercategory effects of market basket purchase. Under the assumption that only a fraction of intercategory effects are significant, we exclude irrelevant effects by variable selection. This leads to a detailed description of consumers’ shopping behavior that varies over segments not only with respect to (w.r.t.) parameters’ values but also w.r. t. included interaction effects. As the high number of product categories in the model prohibits exact maximum likelihood estimation, we adopt pseudo-likelihood estimation. We apply our model to a data set with 31 product categories and 1,794 households purchasing 17,280 baskets in one store. The best fitting model is determined by predictive model selection. We find that a homogeneous model would overestimate the intensity of interaction between product categories.
An Examination of Board Stability and the Long-Term Performance of Initial Public Offerings

We study the long-term stock performance of initial public offerings (IPOs). We examine how past performance affects the board of directors’ stability and how changes in boards affect subsequent performance. We introduce a dynamic, scale invariant stability metric to measure such changes. Our results indicate that among IPO firms, those with poorer initial performance experience greater board instability and that greater board stability is associated with improvement in subsequent performance. These results indicate that board members leave poorly performing firms, rather than shareholders replacing ineffective boards. Retaining boards that experience initial good performance is associated with continued success.
The constant elasticity of variance model: calibration, test and evidence from the Italian equity market

We present a robust and reliable methodology to calibrate and test the Constant Elasticity of Variance (CEV) model. Precisely, the parameters of the model are estimated by maximum likelihood, and an efficient numerical method to maximize the likelihood function is developed. Furthermore, a consistent and effective goodness-of-fit test of the CEV model is obtained using the Rosenblatt probability transformation and the χ 2 analysis. The novel procedure is employed to investigate the performances of the model on the Italian market. This analysis reveals that the CEV model does not offer a correct description of equity prices.
Genotypic analysis of sequential genital herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV‐1) isolates of patients with recurrent HSV‐1 associated genital herpes

Clinical recurrences of Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV‐1)‐associated genital herpes are thought to be caused by reactivation of latent endogenous HSV‐1. However, the possibility of reinfection with exogenous HSV‐1 cannot be excluded. This study aimed to determine the incidence of genital HSV‐1 superinfection in patients by investigating the genotype of sequential HSV‐1 isolates obtained from the same anatomical site of patients with clinical recurrences of genital HSV‐1 recurrent genital herpes. Sequential genital HSV‐1 isolates were genotyped by PCR amplification of the hypervariable regions located within the HSV‐1 genes US1 and US12. Whereas the sequential HSV‐1 isolates in 11 of the 13 patients studied had the same genotypes, the sequential isolates of 2 patients showed a different genotype. The data suggest that HSV‐1‐induced recurrent genital herpes can be associated with genital reinfection with an exogenous HSV‐1 strain. J. Med. Virol. 73:601–604, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Managing excellence: leadership

Managing excellence is a very hot topic presently and there is a proliferation of articles and books on what excellence is and how it can be achieved. This paper is part of a series addressing the topic of Business Excellence from a practical evidence‐based approach. The thoroughness of the study is reflected by both the number of model organisations which were analysed but also by the very comprehensive catalogue of Best Practices found to be the key drivers that have resulted in the covered organisations’ overall performance in the market place. Each of the nine papers concludes with a useful checklist for senior executives and other managers concerned to assess and measure the effectiveness of their “processes” from the point of view of excellence but also maturity